US looking forward to forge ties with new govt: State Dept

WASHINGTON: The United States (US) has said Washington is looking forward to forging a relationship with the new government in Islamabad.

Speaking at a press briefing, US Department of State spokesperson Heather Nauert said US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s visit to Islamabad was “short trip, but nevertheless an important trip.”

She was responding to a question whether any special messages were conveyed to Pakistani leadership from President Donald Trump.

Ms Nauert said: “the Secretary had some meaningful and important meetings with the new government, looking forward to forging a relationship with that new government, recognizing that there are, of course, some tensions and some areas where we – or the government can work harder. And so those were the types of meetings that we had and we were pleased to have gone.”

The US State Secretary visited Islamabad on Sept 5 and held bilateral talks with Pakistani leadership.

Ties between Pakistan and the United States have soured in recent years over the war in Afghanistan and Islamabad’s alleged support for extremists.

The ties gone to a new low when US President Donald Trump in January accused Pakistan of “lies and deceit by playing a double game on fighting terrorism”.

Islamabad denies aiding terrorists in Afghanistan and lashed out against Trump’s remarks, which were followed up by Washington suspending US military aid.

At the United States’ urging, a group of Western countries in February convinced a global body to put Pakistan on a terrorism financing watch list, a move that triggered concerns that Washington may also seek to block Islamabad in other forums.

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