US official, Pakistan FM discuss bilateral ties

Tehmina Janjua. (Courtesy photo)

ISLAMABAD: Lisa Curtis, a senior director for South and Central Asia at the US National Security Council, met with Pakistani Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua in Islamabad on Monday to discuss strained bilateral relations.
Officials at Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry and the US Embassy declined to comment on the confidential meeting when contacted by Arab News, but said some details will be made public after Curtis’ visit.
Foreign relations expert Qamar Cheema told Arab News that the visit “will open new avenues for further cooperation.”
He said: “Pakistan has already shown its commitment to making new institutional arrangements to curb and eliminate terror financing.”
The US is continuing to provide “civil assistance,” though it suspended the Foreign Military Financing and Coalition Support Fund to Pakistan in January, Cheema added.
“The US has limitations in its influence on Pakistan, even after giving assistance,” he said. “The US doesn’t want Pakistan to fall under Chinese and Russian influence,” so it is maintaining diplomatic and back-channel engagements with Islamabad, he added.