ISLAMABAD: Former US special envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad on Friday offered help to Army Chief Gen Qamar Bajwa in perfecting bilateral relations.
A statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations after a meeting between Gen Bajwa and Amb Khalilzad said the former US functionary promised to “ play his part” in bettering the ties between the two countries.
The ISPR said that besides Afghanistan colorful angles of bilateral cooperation were bandied during the meeting.
Mr. Khalilzad is visiting Pakistan for sharing in the National Security Dialogue. He’d nearly worked with Gen Bajwa on Afghan peace and conciliation as the special envoy.
Relations between the two countries touched a new low after Prime Minister Imran Khan’s claim that Pakistan’s Ambassador to the US Asad Majeed was advised by Assistant Secretary of State Donald Lu that Mr. Khan’s durability in office would have an impact on bilateral ties. PM Khan is facing a no-confidence stir tabled in the National Assembly by the common opposition.
The National Security Committee that met a day before expressed‘ grave concern over the United States poking in Pakistan’s internal affairs and decided to lodge a strong kick with it. Demarches were latterly in the night delivered by the Foreign Office to US Charge d’ Affaires in Islamabad and State Department.
The White House and State Department have denied the allegation.
US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, who too had been invited to the Dialogue and was anticipated to make a videotaped statement, reportedly skipped the event because of the new contestation.
