The United States is Pakistan’s largest trading partner, with two-way trade at $5.1 billion and 16% of Pakistan’s exports going to the U.S.in the previous year.
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After India rejected Pakistan’s proposals for bilateral dialogues, the United States has assured that it will persuade New Delhi to pursue talks with Islamabad on all issues, including the longstanding dispute over Himalayan region of Kashmir, officials said on Sunday.
Although the talks are not final yet as the US and Pakistan continue to be in cooperation to finally establish the steps towards peace between Pakistan and India, Washington has, however, urged Pakistan to avoid any further developments in their nuclear programme since risks and instability may happen, Reuters reports.
Nawaz met Obama at White housse.
Pakistan successfully brokered a first round of talks between the parties in July, but a second round was derailed after revelations that Taliban leader Mullah Omar had died two years ago. “The promise that the groups would not be allowed to operate from Pakistani soil suggests that the bulk of the meeting was uni-directional with the United States president making demands of PM Nawaz”.
In his talks with Sharif, Obama also raised concerns about Americans held hostage by militants in the region and welcomed Sharif’s offer to assist in ensuring their safe return, the White House said in an apparent reference to an American couple kidnapped in Afghanistan in 2012.
Despite the tensions, the Obama administration is preparing to sell Islamabad eight F-16 fighter jets in a bid to bolster ties, a USA source familiar with the matter said. “It (Kashmir) also figured in the joint statement”, Sharif said adding all of them recognised that Kashmir is a “flashpoint” and it needs to be resolved.
He said Pakistan’s priority is to defeat the TTP to bring peace in Afghanistan.
Noting it is Pakistan “which has chosen to use terrorism as an instrument of state policy”, Swarup said: “We hope that this visit conveys a clear message to Pakistan that the worldwide community is deeply concerned about its support to and sponsorship of terrorism”. And USA officials see little change in the attitude of Pakistan’s powerful security services to these problems.
“So they are very well aware of the terrorist threats including to all aspects of their military installations and it’s our understanding that they have a dedicated security apparatus that understands the importance of nuclear security”, the official said.
Finally, President Obama thanked Prime Minister Sharif for his efforts to engage Afghanistan and for supporting talks with the Taliban.
“Describing Kashmir as “a flashpoint” between India and Pakistan, Sharif said there is a need for a third party mediation to resolve the issue and end stalemate in the Indo-Pak dialogue process”.
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The leaders noted Pakistan’s efforts to improve its strategic trade controls and enhance its engagement with multilateral export control regimes, the joint statement said.
