U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, currently visiting Pakistan, met with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Thursday and the two vowed to work together for peace and stability in Afghanistan.
"Both sides discussed in length Afghan situation besides other regional issues including the post-2014 scenario," reported Radio Pakistan.
The U.S. delegation includes Special Representative on Pakistan and Afghanistan James Dobbins, and U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan Richard Olson, and is aiming to find ways to promote a secure and stable Afghanistan besides discussing energy, social sector, education and trade relationship between the two countries.
"We will discuss with the Pakistanis counter-terrorism, cross-border militancy, the economic agenda and how we can continue to partner in terms of promoting a secure and stable Afghanistan," said one of the delegates travelling with Kerry, according to the Reuters.
Washington is Pakistan's biggest donor and is demanding that the Pakistani government come up with a clear plan and openly support the U.S. government in tackling terrorist groups like the Haqqani network, which often attacks American forces in Afghanistan.
"Safe havens for extremist groups clearly threaten our interests, our allies in the region and most of all Nawaz Sharif's own ability to execute his reform agenda and provide greater economic stability," said the delegate.
"Unlike previous visits, we are not going at a moment of crisis, which has defined the relationship over the last several years, but at a moment of quite unique and aligned interests," said the U.S. official. "It is an alignment of several factors that made this the right time to go to begin a series of substantive, meaty and important discussions with the new civilian government and a range of other stakeholders in Pakistan."
This is John Kerry's first visit to Pakistan as Secretary of State.
