The United States is committed to advancing its bilateral relationship with Pakistan as a senior State Department official landed in Islamabad for indepth talks with government officials. In a statement issued by the Foreign Office in Islamabad on Friday, Foreign Secretary Dr Asad Majeed Khan received US Department of State Counselor Derek Chollet at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Thursday.

Welcoming Counselor Chollet, the Foreign Secretary stated that the frequent bilateral visits were a manifestation of the positive trajectory of the Pakistan-US relationship. The foreign secretary expressed satisfaction on the second Mid-level Defence Dialogue and the upcoming Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) Council meeting in Washington DC.

He emphasized the importance of sustained cooperation through the institutionalized dialogues in trade and investment, energy, security, climate change and health. He stressed the need to expand cooperation in Agriculture, Education, IT, and Science and Technology.

Counselor Chollet reaffirmed that the United States was committed to advancing the bilateral relationship. He expressed US solidarity and support with Pakistan and its people in recovery from the 2022 floods. The foreign secretary thanked the Counselor for the US support and hoped to remain engaged in the long-term recovery and rehabilitation efforts.

Counselor Chollet was accompanied by Clinton White, Counselor of the United States Agency for International Development, Ambassador Donald Blome and Elizabeth Horst, Principal Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs at the US Department of State.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-INP