Pakistan seeks long-term strategic ties with US
By IANSThursday, March 18, 2010
ISLAMABAD - Pakistan seeks a long-term strategic partnership with the US, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said Thursday conceding that differences still exist between the two countries but it is now Washington’s turn to do more.
Pakistan wants a long-term strategic partnership based on mutual trust, respect and shared values, he told reporters here ahead of the Pakistan-US strategic dialogue in Washington March 24.
Unfortunately, past engagements were not successful but an entirely new framework is now in place in Pakistan.
We have told the US that it is the time to take practical steps. The entire Pakistani nation has made a number of sacrifices (in the global war on terror) and it is time for the US to do more,” Qureshi added.
He said Pakistan would propose an annual foreign ministers’ engagement and 10-track calendar-based sectoral engagements.
Through these engagements, we want to lay down the foundation of a deeper and mutually beneficial partnership, Qureshi maintained.
