US, Pak Discuss Need To Maintain "Responsible Relationship" With India

Addressing the debt issue with China was one of the key focus of the talks between US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his Pakistani counterpart Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

The importance of managing a "responsible relationship" with India and addressing the debt issue with China so that Pakistan can recover more quickly from the effects of the devastating floods has been the main focus of the talks between US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and his Pakistani counterpart. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

During the meeting held at the State Department headquarters in Fuji Bottom on Monday, Anthony Blinken also said that the United States and Pakistan would continue to work closely on counter-terrorism issues.

ad

“In our discussion today, we talked about the importance of managing a responsible relationship with India,

"I also urged our colleagues to engage China on some important issues of debt forgiveness and restructuring so that Pakistan can recover more quickly from the floods," Anthony Blinken said at an event here to celebrate the 75th anniversary of US-Pakistan relations.

Relations between India and Pakistan were strained due to the Kashmir issue and transnational terrorism emanating from Pakistan, and relations between the two countries collapsed after India repealed Article 370 of the Constitution, revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and divided the state into a state. Federal Territories on August 5, 2019

.

After India's decision, Pakistan reduced diplomatic relations with New Delhi and expelled the Indian envoy.

Trade relations between Pakistan and India have been largely frozen since then.

Anthony Blinken said they also talked about the importance of fulfilling their obligations as democracies, upholding core values ​​such as respect for freedom of religion,

Belief, freedom of expression.

For his part, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that Pakistan-US relations are not only resilient, but have also stood the test of time.

"We've proven throughout history that when we work together, we achieve great things. And I think when we don't work together, we stumble, then we stumble, and then things go wrong,

" He said.

Anthony Blinken emphasized that the two countries would continue to work closely on counter-terrorism issues, and said the United States and Pakistan had a common interest in Afghanistan's future after two decades of war.

"We had our differences; it's no secret. But we share a common goal: a more stable, more peaceful and free future for all of Afghanistan and for those throughout the wider region. We will continue to work together toward that end as well as upholding the basic human rights of the Afghan people, especially women and girls."

Prior to his meeting with Bhutto Zardari Bilawal, Anthony Blinken told reporters that the United States stands in solidarity with the Pakistani people who have suffered from devastating floods in recent weeks.

“There is a huge focus now on the really devastating floods that have been hit in Pakistan,

We stand in strong solidarity with our friends in Pakistan...

And not only do we stand in solidarity, but we are also doing everything we can to help at this moment just as Pakistan was helping us, including at the beginning of COVID.”

later in readings,

During the meeting between the two leaders, State Department spokesman Ned Price said, Anthony Blinken lamented the destruction and loss of life across Pakistan due to the catastrophic floods.

BY
ProBuzzFeed