Pak FM Asif to meet Secretary Tillerson in Washington

Washington D.C. [United States], Oct.4 (ANI): The United States Department of State has confirmed that Pakistan Foreign Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif will meet his American counterpart Secretary Rex Tillerson at his office on Wednesday morning.

According to the Dawn, Foreign Minister Asif arrived in Washington on Tuesday evening on a three-day visit to Washington to reportedly prevent further deterioration in bilateral relations between the two countries which have been close allies for most of the past 70 years.

The paper said that Foreign Minister Asif would also meet US National Security Adviser Lt.Gen. H.R. McMaster on Thursday.

No mention was made of what the agenda for the meeting would be, but the State Department said a joint statement could be expected after the talks.

Relations between the United States and Pakistan became strained on August 21 this year when President Donald Trump announced his new strategy for South Asia and squarely blamed Pakistan for sheltering terrorists in safe havens. He also threatened to stop economic and military assistance to Islamabad and offered India a greater role in Afghanistan, ignoring Islamabad's concerns.

Pakistan has since downgraded delegation-level visits, but is still talking to the American leadership on a case-by-case basis. (ANI)