Mr. Tariq Fatemi, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister gave Detailed Roundup of his Current Visit to the US during Media Briefing

Mr. Tariq Fatemi, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister gave Detailed Roundup of his Current Visit to the US during Media Briefing
Washington D.C.

Mr. Tariq Fatemi, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs conducted a media briefing on his current visit to the US at the Embassy today. In his opening remarks, Mr. Fatemi, SAPM informed Pakistani media persons that the primary purpose of his current official visit to the US was twofold i.e. to touch base with the outgoing US Administration by reviewing progress in the current bilateral relations (over three and a half years) and forge links with the new US Administration that will assume office in Jan, 2017.

Mr. Tariq Fatemi, SAPM, during his official and private engagements in USA, briefed the US think tanks, policymakers and influential’s on the positive developments in Pakistan over the last three years. He underscored the resolve of Prime Minister Sharif’s Government to build a stable and secure Pakistan.

Mr. Fatemi highlighted the tremendous sacrifices rendered by the people and security forces of Pakistan in the campaign against terrorism during his contacts in Washington. He emphasized that Pakistan had paid a very heavy price and was firmly committed to eliminating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. He, however, added that Pakistan, being a sovereign State, would decide the scale, pace and reach of its counter terrorism efforts in line with its economic and operational limitations as well as other capacity constraints.

Mr. Fatemi underscored that his current official visit to US afforded an excellent opportunity to explain Pakistan’s perspective to his US counterparts regarding key issues such as Governance, Economy, Counter-terrorism efforts etc. He had a productive round of meetings with Deputy Secretary of State Mr. Antony Blinken & incumbent National Security Advisor Susan Rice. During his stay in Washington DC, he also met Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Senator Bob Corker and Senator John McCain. Mr. Fatemi remarked that though Trump Administration was not yet in place, Pakistan looked forward to working closely with the new President-elect & his team with particular focus on economic linkages and trade that formed a common denominator in the agenda of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and President-elect Trump.

Mr. Fatemi concluded the briefing by indicating that his current visit to US would be followed by other high level visits. Pakistan was aiming at building a comprehensive, sustained and forward looking relationship with the US.

December 15, 2016
Washington D.C