ISLAMABAD: US Ambassador to Pakistan David Hale has said that Pak-US strategic dialogues are an opportunity to build strong bilateral relationship.
Talking to the state-run news channel, the US ambassador said that the relationship could be described as strong, broad and enduring as both the sides were benefiting from it. He said Pakistan had been on track for the last few years. Revival of democracy, war against terrorism and economic reforms were making it a competitive country. To a question, he said the United States was working on strategies to ensure provision of services such as energy, education, health care and security to an average Pakistani. “Also, in America we have planned the strategy to tell the Congressmen and other Americans about the sacrifices that Pakistan has made so far in fight against terrorism.
“We are strong partner for each others,” he added. To a question about Muslims in America, he said that President Obama had recently visited a mosque in Baltimore and talked about how American Muslims were important for the structure of American society. “They are doctors, lawyers, engineers, policeman and there is no doubt they are the productive citizens of the US social fabric,” he explained. To another question, he said hopefully the future government of United States is going to have far more stable relationship with Pakistan.
He said the Pak-US relationship not only based on security and counter terrorism but also on societal level with the wide range of developmental and economical fields. Education was the most fundamental tool of development and the United States had always been supportive of Pakistan in that regard, Hale said. “Let the girls learn” programme was one example that would help 2,000 girls get education in under-developed areas. The ambassador said the US relationship with both India and Pakistan was based totally on separate footings. Pakistan and the US were two sovereign countries that strived to work together in positive direction, he added. The US envoy said his country is appreciative of the beginning of dialogues between India and Pakistan.
