Ambasssador Sherry Rehman met with Democrat Senators Christopher S. Murphy of Connecticut and Tim Kaine of Virginia

Ambasssador Sherry Rehman met with Democrat Senators Christopher S. Murphy of Connecticut and Tim Kaine of Virginia

To kick start the Embassy’s outreach campaign with the new Congress, Ambasssador Sherry Rehman on January 30, 2013 met with Democrat Senators Christopher S. Murphy of Connecticut and Tim Kaine of Virginia in separate meetings. The Senators have recently been elected to the Senate and are members of important Senate Committees. Senator Murphy is serving on the Foreign Relations Committee whereas Senator Kaine, former Governor of Virginia, is a member of the Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees.

Discussions focused on the Afghan reconciliation process, the US draw down and Pakistan’s efforts to counter IEDs. The Senators were briefed on the support that Pakistan has been extending to the Afghan High Peace Council’s initiatives. She also informed them about actions Pakistan has initiated to restrict the smuggling of bomb making materials across the Pak-Afghan border. Ambassador Rehman emphasized the importance for taking Pakistan’s positions on issues critical to Pak-US relation into account for the Congress to reach informed decisions. The Senators who expressed support for strong Pak-US relations agreed with the Ambassador and promised to remain in contact.

In a related set of engagements, the DCM, Dr. Asad Majeed, and the Defence Attache, Brig. Abdullah Dogar met with senior foreign policy staff of Senator Jim Inhofe (Republican-Oklahoma) the senior Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee.

January 30, 2013
Washington DC