Ambassador Jilani speaks at the Georgetown University Asian Studies Program Lunch with an Ambassador Series

The George Town University hosted Ambassador Jalil Abbass Jilani as part of the Asian Studies Program at the Intercultural Center.

Ambassador Jalil Abbas Jilani with Professor Victor Cha, Director of the Asian Studies Program at Georgetown University

Speaking to a gathering of academia, experts and students at the Georgetown University, Ambassador Jilani said the two countries are working closely towards regional security and stability.

Pakistan and the United States are working cooperatively to advance their wide-ranging relationship, which is now back on track with the resumption of strategic dialogue.

The relationship is back on track,? after setbacks it suffered in 2011 and 2012 and now the two countries are working together on an array of issues of common interest including trade, economy, security, energy, counter terrorism and intelligence sharing, the Ambassador said.

In his speech, Ambassador Jilani noted that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had a very productive meeting with President Barack Obama at the White House in October last year and since then the working groups under the Strategic Partnership have met regularly to take forward bilateral cooperation.

The Ambassador also apprised the gathering about Pakistan?s democratic milestones, independence of judiciary, freedom of the Press and said the country?s progress in the key areas bode well for its future even as it confronts economic and security challenges.

Pakistan, he pointed out, has suffered the most at the hands of terrorism in the post-9/11 phase and the menace took a toll on economic growth but now Islamabad is fully focused on achieving an economic turnaround with a host of much-need reforms.

Regionally, the Ambassador said, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif?s government is committed to promoting peaceful relations with Pakistan?s neighbors including Afghanistan and India and wants to address issues through dialogue.

On Afghanistan, Ambassador Jilani reaffirmed Islamabad?s policy to back an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned reconciliation process in the country, as the U.S.-led international forces draw down by the end of the current year.

The session was moderated by Professor Victor Cha, Director of the Asian Studies Program at Georgetown University.

Feb 21, 2014
Washington DC