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Pakistan urges U.S. to address concern in post-NATO Afghanistan

10 May 2014 01:44 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. A Pakistani cabinet minister on Friday urged a visiting top American diplomat to address its concern in the post-NATO Afghanistan, officials said, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State William J. Burns held talks with senior Pakistani leaders including Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Army Chief General Raheel Sharif. He also met several cabinet ministers and discussed with them bilateral and regional issues. "The interior minister said Pakistan is looking forward to working with the new Afghan government but emphasized that any bilateral or regional arrangement must address Pakistan's concerns and interests.

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan outlined Pakistan's concerns over the situation in the post-2014 scenario in his meeting with the U.S. official. "The minister said Pakistan is looking forward to working with the new Afghan government but emphasized that any bilateral or regional arrangement must address Pakistan's concerns and interests,"the ministry said.

He stressed greater coordination and cooperation in relations in the wake of the drawdown of ISAF forces from Afghanistan.

Burns also met Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and discussed bilateral and regional issues, the PM office said.

He called on Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif at General Headquarters and discussed matters of mutual interest including regional security situation.

Burns, arrived in Islamabad Thursday evening for talks on security matters when foreign forces are devising exit strategy. Burns is the second senior American official to visit Pakistan.

On Friday, Burns also met the Adviser to Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz and expressed satisfaction with the development of bilateral relations, the Foreign Ministry said.

A statement said both sides discussed cooperation in education and science and technology areas under the umbrella of strategic dialogue, adding that regional issues including Afghanistan were also discussed.