From Sandra Johnson
WASHINGTON: The US State Department spokesperson Ned Price while briefing the newsmen in Washington on Tuesday said that the United States values its longstanding cooperation with Pakistan, Dunya News reported.
Ned Price said that US Deputy Secretary Wendy Sherman did have an opportunity to meet with the Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa. He said that we meet with and speak with Pakistan s officials regularly on a range of issues. But as is standard practice, we don’t delve into the details of those engagements always.
He said that there are a number of areas where our interests are aligned. The stability and the future of Afghanistan and the Afghan people, the security challenges in the region and potentially beyond face there always are on the agenda when we have high-level engagements with our Pakistani counterparts.
Answering a question regarding measures to make sure that the flood relief assistance reaches to the deserving people, Ned Price said we have adequate tracking mechanisms in this context. USAID staff makes regular trips to monitor our programs in the field.
He said USAID staff members traveled to more than 10 flood-affected districts in Balochistan and Sindh provinces to assess not only the humanitarian conditions but also the response activities and to make sure that those response activities were meeting the humanitarian need.
He said that USAID also works with local partners and organisations that have extensive knowledge of the affected areas and population to make sure that the response activities meet the humanitarian needs.
Days earlier, Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa had called on Secretary of Defence Lloyd James Austin III, National Security Advisor Jacob Jeremiah Sullivan and Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Ruth Sherman during his visit to the United States.
During the meetings, according to the military’s media wing, matters of mutual of interest, regional security situation and bilateral cooperation in various fields were discussed.
In a statement early on Tuesday morning, the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that COAS Bajwa thanked US officials for their support.
The top general reiterated that assistance from our global partners shall be vital for rescue and rehabilitation of the flood victims in Pakistan.
“Both sides agreed that Pakistan and US have long history of bilateral cooperation and shall continue improving through economic ties, trade and investment,” it added.
The top military commander also offered heartfelt condolence on the deaths and devastation caused by hurricane in Florida.
An enhanced honour cordon has been hosted for Pakistan’s top general, who is currently in Washington for a series of meetings with top US officials on a five-day official trip.
An enhanced honor cordon is reserved for the US president, vice president, statutory appointees, general or flag officers of the US military, foreign dignitaries occupying positions comparable to these US officials, and for occasions in which such ceremonies promote international goodwill.
