'Improved Indo-Pak relations enhances regional stability'

Washington: An improvement in relations between New Delhi and Islamabad enhances the prospects of regional stability and prosperity, US and Pakistan have said. [caption id=“attachment_1362615” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] AFP[/caption] In a joint statement issued after the US-Pak Strategic Dialogue on Monday, US Secretary of State John Kerry and National Security and Foreign Affairs Adviser to Pakistan prime minister Sartaj Aziz recognised the significance of improved relations between the two South Asian neighbours. “Kerry and Aziz recognised the potential for enhanced stability and prosperity from improved bilateral relations between Pakistan and India, benefiting the lives of citizens on both sides of the border,” the joint statement said. “Towards that end, the United States welcomed Prime Minister Sharif’s vision for a peaceful neighbourhood and efforts for the economic uplift of the people of the region, including steps taken by Pakistan and India to improve their relations,” said the joint statement. Aziz lead a high power Pakistani delegation for the talks with the US. On Tuesday he is scheduled to meet the National Security Adviser Susan Rice at the White House. The two leaders also reiterated their commitment to the reconciliation process in Afghanistan, which they argued is of paramount importance for regional stability. Kerry and Aziz stressed that a peaceful, stable, independent, and united Afghanistan is in the interest of the region. Both sides emphasised their support for a policy of non-interference in Afghanistan and reaffirmed that Afghan-led peace and reconciliation is the surest way to end violence and ensure stability in the region. The two leaders also called on the Taliban to join the political process and enter into dialogue with the Afghan government. They expressed their conviction that an enduring US-Pakistan partnership is vital to regional and international security. The two leaders recognised their shared interest in Pakistan’s economic growth, increased trade, stability, and mutually-determined measures to counter extremism and terrorism, the statement said. Underscoring the US commitment to supporting private sector-led growth in Pakistan, Kerry welcomed the proposal by Aziz to regularly convene a Joint Business and Investment Forum, involving the private sector. Both the sides also look forward to a US-convened conference in April 2014 in Islamabad that will link Pakistani and Central Asian businesses to encourage increased regional trade. During the meeting, the US and Pakistan underscored the importance of intensifying efforts to facilitate regional energy connectivity and continuing to upgrade Pakistan’s transmission infrastructure. Pakistan welcomed the recent US commitment of $15 million in support of the Central Asia-South Asia electricity transmission project (CASA-1000) that will help create a regional energy grid to link Central and South Asia for the first time. The two sides expressed their commitment for cooperation in expanding power generation capacity; promoting the efficient use of energy resources; fostering development of Pakistan’s gas resources and their efficient utilisation; increasing utilisation of hydroelectric and renewable resources; and continuing reforms to the energy sector to ensure its financial sustainability and to attract private sector investment, the joint statement said. PTI