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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his Pakistani counterpart Bilawal Bhutto Zardari primarily discussed the importance of maintaining a “responsible relationship” with India and resolving the debt issue with China so that Pakistan can recover more quickly from the effects of the devastation caused by the floods.
Antony Blinken added that the United States and Pakistan will keep cooperating closely on counterterrorism concerns during the discussion at the State Department’s Foggy Bottom headquarters on Monday.
Pakistan-related cross-border terrorism and the Kashmir dispute have soured ties between India and Pakistan.
On August 5, 2019, India revoked Article 370 of the Constitution, ending Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and dividing the state into two Union Territories. As a result, bilateral relations have deteriorated significantly.
Pakistan cut off diplomatic relations with New Delhi after India’s decision and expelled the Indian envoy. Since then, the two countries’ trade relations have mostly been frozen.
They also discussed the value of supporting fundamental principles like respect for freedom of expression and the right to practise one’s religion, according to Antony Blinken, who stated they did so throughout their conversation.
The Pakistan-US relationship, according to Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, has not only proven to be resilient throughout time but also endured.
Through history, we have demonstrated that when people come together, amazing things can be accomplished. Additionally, I think that when we don’t cooperate, we stumble, falter, and things go wrong,” he stated.
Antony Blinken emphasised that the two nations will continue to collaborate closely on counterterrorism concerns and stated that the US and Pakistan have an interest in Afghanistan’s future after 20 years of war.
It’s no secret that we’ve had our disagreements. We do, however, have a shared goal: a more secure, tranquil, and liberated future for all of Afghanistan as well as for those living in the surrounding area. In addition to supporting the fundamental human rights of the Afghan people, particularly women and girls, we’ll keep cooperating towards that goal, he said.
The US stands in sympathy with the Pakistani people who have been suffering as a result of the disastrous flood in recent weeks, Antony Blinken said reporters prior to his meeting with Bhutto Zardari Bilawal.
The truly devastating floods that Pakistan has experienced are receiving a lot of attention at the moment, and we stand in solidarity with our friends there. In addition, we are doing everything we can to help them at this time, just as Pakistan has helped us in the past, including at the start of COVID, he added.
Later, in a readout, State Department Spokesperson Ned Price stated that during the discussion between the two leaders, Antony Blinken expressed concern about the destruction and casualties inflicted throughout Pakistan as a result of severe flooding.
“He reaffirmed the US commitment to the people of Pakistan, emphasising the almost USD 56.5 million in flood relief and humanitarian aid delivered this year as well as the additional USD 10 million of food security support announced today,” Price continued.
According to him, the two presidents also talked about cooperating on matters pertaining to regional stability, Afghanistan, economic growth, and food security.
