WASHINGTON: US Republican Senator Lindsey Graham on Monday called on Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan at the Pakistan House here in the American capital city.
Graham, also the head of the US Senate Judiciary Committee and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, according to a press statement, “has been the most vocal and active supporter of refreshing US-Pakistan bilateral ties in the interest of regional peace and security”.
In the Graham-Khan meeting, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Foreign Secretary Sohail Mehmood, and Pakistani Ambassador to the US Dr Asad Majeed Khan were present.
According to the statement, the PM and the US senator “discussed bilateral relations and the regional situation. The Prime Minister appreciated Senator Graham’s efforts and support for strengthening Pakistan-U.S relations.
“Prime Minister Khan apprised the Senator of his Government’s development and economic priorities. He said Pakistan desired a broad based relationship with the United States that safeguarded the two countries’ interests and promoted win-win cooperation in areas ranging from the economy to trade and investment to energy and education,” it added.
Khan, according to the statement, said: “Pakistan had paid a high price because of instability in Afghanistan.
“Pakistan desired peace in Afghanistan and was fully committed to working with the United States in achieving a political settlement in Afghanistan.”
Graham, on the other hand, “agreed with the Prime Minister that sustained and high-level engagement between Pakistan and the United States were to the two countries’ mutual advantage. He appreciated Pakistan’s support for the peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan.
“The Senator said the marked improvement in Pakistan’s security environment was a result of its successful counter-terrorism operations and efforts to secure the Pakistan-Afghanistan border,” the statement noted.
In successive tweets later, Graham said: “In my opinion he and his government represent the best opportunity in decades to have a beneficial strategic relationship the US. This will help us secure Afghanistan and the region long-term.
