Pakistan has expressed its willingness to collaborate with the new US administration to strengthen bilateral relations, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Thursday.
“We are committed to a strong and robust relationship with the United States based on the principle of non-interference in internal affairs,” Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said during his weekly press briefing in Islamabad.
Shafqat Ali welcomed the swearing-in of President Donald Trump and highlighted the importance of US-Pakistan relations, which cover multiple areas. “We look forward to continuing the positive trajectory of these relationships,” he added.
The spokesperson also highlighted Pakistan’s concerns over the presence of Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) shrines in Afghanistan. “We continue to urge the Afghan authorities to address these concerns so that bilateral relations can reach their full potential,” Khan said.
On the Kashmir dispute, Khan reiterated Pakistan’s clear position, citing global awareness of the “campaign of oppression unleashed in India’s illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.” He assured that Pakistan would support any efforts aimed at resolving the dispute.
Regarding the Indus Waters Treaty, Shafqat Ali stated that Pakistan remains committed to its full implementation, including the dispute settlement mechanism. He expressed hope that India would also implement the treaty in good faith and in full.
Replying to a question, Shafqat Ali Khan mentioned an agreement with the United States to resettle Afghan refugees in the United States by September this year. “This agreement is in force until now,” he said.
