WASHINGTON: Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States Aizaz Chaudhry has expressed confidence that US President Donald Trump and his new administration will engage positively with Pakistan, saying the two nations have been partners for the last seven decades and their multifaceted ties have benefited both.
In his first interview after assuming his new assignment in Washington on Monday, Ambassador Chaudhry said he would work to deepen the ‘mutually beneficial’ ties between the two countries.
The ambassador said that given that both President Trump and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif have strong business backgrounds, the two countries can certainly profit from strong economic relations.
“One area where the two countries have cooperated closely in the recent past is the shared desire to defeat the menace of terrorism. Our partnership has helped defeat Al Qaeda,†the ambassador said.
Underscoring Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to counter-terrorism, the ambassador said that Pakistan and the US could continue this mission until our region is rid of terrorism “in all its forms and manifestations”.
The ambassador stated that the two countries could also work together to stabilize Afghanistan.
“Pakistan would like to see a stable, peaceful and prosperous Afghanistan. We have suffered in the past from instability in Afghanistan,†he added.
Responding to a question, he said it was vital that the United States and Pakistan work together to destroy ISIS before it gains any footholds in Afghanistan.
When his attention was drawn to the fact that some US lawmakers continue to express reservations about Pakistan’s commitment to fight terrorism, the ambassador stated that it was important that the US lawmakers were apprised of the reality of today’s Pakistan, which was considerably different from the perceptions created by some detractors.
He said that Pakistan has turned the tide against terrorism and Operation Zarb-e-Azb was a resounding success.
“We are now consolidating through a new military operation, Raddul Fasaad, which is meant to hunt down and eliminate terrorists hiding in our society,†he added.
The ambassador reiterated that the implementation of the National Action Plan has become one of Prime Minister Nawaz’s top priorities.
“As foreign secretary of Pakistan, I was honoured to sit in many high-level meetings where such decisions were taken and reviewed. I can say it with authority that Pakistan is now well on its way to defeat terrorism in our country.â€
He said he would make efforts to take this positive story to each member of the US Congress and show them the fast emerging positive reality of Pakistan.
“We would also welcome US legislators to visit Pakistan and see for themselves the new, stronger and prosperous Pakistan,†he added.
Ambassador Chaudhry said that before arriving in Washington, he called on the president, the prime minister, as well as senior civil and military leadership, and there was a complete consensus in Pakistan to have friendly and cooperative ties with the United States.
“The US remains one of our most important relationships in terms of trade, economy, defence, energy, health, education, and culture,†the ambassador said, adding that he was in Washington to build on the excellent history of cooperation the two countries have enjoyed since long.
“I am confident that President Trump and his administration will engage positively with Pakistan for the common benefit of our two countries,†the Ambassador added.