On Monday, United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari spoke about Pakistan’s economy and Afghanistan-related issues.
According to State Department’s spokesperson Matthew Miller, Secretary Blinken reaffirmed a “productive US-Pakistan partnership” in a phone conversation with FM Bilawal.
Pakistan has been facing rising cross-border terrorism, with local authorities blaming Kabul for harbouring terrorists — especially the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
The secretary noted the Pakistani people have suffered tremendously from terrorist attacks and affirmed the United States’ commitment to continued partnership with Pakistan on counterterrorism.
The secretary and foreign minister also discussed the destabilising effects of Russia’s war against Ukraine and the United States and Pakistan’s shared interest in a peaceful and stable Afghanistan.
The call came hours after US Central Command (Centcom) chief, General Michael Erik Kurilla, discussed the regional security situation with Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir during a meeting in Rawalpindi.
Apart from the regional security situation, matters of mutual interest and defence cooperation were also discussed, the military’s media wing mentioned in a statement.
Pakistan and the US have called on war-torn Afghanistan to ensure that its soil isn’t used as a haven by terrorists.
