ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Foreign Minister of Pakistan Jalil Abbas Jilani emphasized the significance of strengthening bilateral ties with the United States on Tuesday, hoping the two countries would capitalize on the momentum generated by recent high-level official visits between them in the new year.
Pakistan’s army chief, General Asim Munir, visited the US last month where he held meetings with several high-profile officials, including State Secretary Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, to discuss a broad spectrum of issues.
The US State Department also described Pakistan as a major non-NATO ally, saying it would continue to work with it in the region.
The Pakistani foreign minister expressed optimism for a positive trajectory of bilateral relations between the two countries during a meeting with the US envoy in Islamabad, Donald Blome.
“The US Ambassador to Pakistan, Donald [Blome], called on Foreign Minister [Jalil Abbas Jilani] today,” the foreign office said in a social media post on platform X. “Discussions focused on some major aspects of bilateral relations including the recent visit of the Chief of Army Staff to the United States.”
“The Foreign Minister underlined that in 2024, the two sides should continue to build on the recent exchanges and the momentum gained in bilateral ties,” it added.
Pakistan witnessed several back-to-back visits by senior US officials last month, which the foreign office described as part of the bilateral consultations over a range of issues.
These officials included Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration Julieta Valls Noyes, Special US Representative on Afghanistan Tom West and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Elizabeth Horst.
