The United States spokesperson Ned Price today said Pakistan is an important partner of America. He said that the US and Pakistan have common interests when it comes to Afghanistan along with peace and stability there.
During the weekly press briefing, State Department spokesperson was asked about Pakistan’s influence in bringing the Afghan Taliban, at this crucial juncture, to the table in Doha. In his reply, Ned Price said that Pakistan and the US have shared interests, adding that Pakistan has been helpful when it comes to this shared interest in Afghanistan.
“We have – and this goes over the course of successive administrations now – encouraged Pakistan to be a constructive partner when it comes to Afghanistan and our collective efforts to bring about some semblance of peace and security there.
“Pakistan has been helpful when it comes to this shared interest.
“Our shared interests go well beyond that: broader counter-terrorism interests as well, not to mention the people-to-people ties that unite our two countries,” Price added.
When asked about Prime Minister Imran Khan’s decision to refuse the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) bases in Pakistan, the spokesperson replied that all of Afghanistan’s neighbours need to play a constructive role in helping to bring “about a just and durable political settlement as well as a comprehensive ceasefire”.
