Meeting of the Advisor to the Prime Minister Sartaj Aziz and the Defence Minister Khawaja Asif with members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee at the Hill

The Advisor to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs, Mr. Sartaj Aziz and the Defence Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif, interacted with key members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) at the Capitol Hill today. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee is one of the original standing Committees of the Congress that has been instrumental in shaping and influencing the US Foreign Policy.

Both the Advisor and the Minister for Defence thanked the Senators for their consistent support to strengthen democracy in Pakistan and emphasized the need to develop people to people contacts through trade and expanded economic links for building a mutually beneficial and a forward looking relationship with the United States.

Sharing Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif?s vision for a stable and prosperous South Asia, the Advisor and the Defence Minister briefed the Senators on Pakistan?s efforts to seek improved relations with India and Afghanistan. In this regard, they also updated the Senators on the steps taken by Pakistan to facilitate the reconciliation process and the US drawdown from Afghanistan.

Earlier, the Committee Chair, Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and the Ranking Member, Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn) welcomed the Advisor and the Defence Minister at the Hill and briefed them about the Committee’s role in the US foreign policy process. The Senators noted the immense sacrifices made by Pakistan in the global fight against terrorism. Pakistan’s cooperation in facilitating the US/ ISAF supplies to and from Afghanistan was also appreciated.

January 29, 2014
Washington DC