Summary US Secretary of State will meet the political and military leadership of Pakistan on his visit.
ISLAMABAD (Online): The US Secretary of State, John Kerry is arriving today (Monday) in Islamabad for a two-day visit for Pakistan-US strategic dialogue.
Kerry would hold a meeting with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in the evening to discuss bilateral and regional issues, diplomatic sources informed Sunday.
On Tuesday, he would participate in Pak-US strategic dialogue, discussing bilateral ties and enhancement of relations in five important areas namely energy; security, strategic stability and non-proliferation; the defence consultative group; law-enforcement, counter-terrorism; and economy and finance.
Kerry would also convey a special message from President Obama to Sharif urging for resumption of Pak-India dialogue to defuse tense situation after firing incident killing Pakistani civilians and soldiers, the diplomatic sources said.
During his stay in India on Sunday, he has already secretly raised the issue with India for normalization of its ties with Islamabad, they added.
The US Secretary would meet Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif after the strategic dialogue meeting to discuss bilateral defence ties, security issues, counter-terrorism and concerns arising after drawdown from Afghanistan.
The sources revealed that Operation Zarb-e-Azb, terrorism and other issues of mutual interest would also be discussed.
Kerry’s visit to the Army Public School in Peshawar, that was brutally attacked last month, is also expected.
Energy sector being part of the Pak-US strategic dialogue, he would likely to visit Terbela Dam, according to media reports.
The talks between Pakistan and the US would mainly focus on discussing the avenues and means as how to go further in bilateral cooperation.
The strategic dialogue between the two countries covers the five areas of bilateral cooperation that had discussed through working groups. The ministerial level meeting would give it a strategic touch.
Officials in the foreign ministry say that the scope of the talks could be expanded to other areas later.
Meanwhile, diplomatic sources also said that Kerry is likely to brush aside the Indian criticism over financial assistance to Pakistan.
“He is expected to announce financial package for Pakistan for the coming years,” they said.
Under the Kerry-Lugar-Berman bill, the US promised in 2010 to pay Pakistan $ 7.6 billion to Pakistan in five years. Until now Obama administration has paid $ 4.3 billion to the country, the payment of outstanding money would come under discussion, the sources informed.
The issuance of USD 532 million would also be raised and Kerry is like to give a positive node as the US understand Pakistan’s difficulties when a full-fledge country-wide action against terrorism is going on.
After concluding his talks with Pakistani officials, Kerry is expected to fly to Kabul.
