United States (US) Deputy Secretary of State Ms. Wendy R Sherman met Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Friday.

US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman arrived in Islamabad on Thursday for the talks that focused on the current situation in Afghanistan and on Washington’s efforts to evolve a coordinated approach towards Kabul’s new Taliban rulers.

“During the meeting, matters of mutual interest, regional security situation, and collaboration in humanitarian measures in Afghanistan were discussed,” says a press release issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Directorate.

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COAS said that Pakistan pledges to make every effort for peace and stability in Afghanistan and supports an all-inclusive Afghan government. COAS emphasized maintaining meaningful bilateral interaction between the two countries to have a long-term multi-domain cooperation.

The visiting dignitary praised Pakistan’s participation in the Afghan situation, particularly its aid in facilitating effective evacuation operations, and committed to cooperating with Pakistan to promote regional peace.

Other Meeting:

The top US diplomat also met Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, National Security Adviser Moeed Yusuf during her two-day stay in the Pakistani capital.

The State Department prompted two statements from Sherman’s engagements in Islamabad, indicating the importance of the Afghan problem in US-Pakistan talks.

According to the Department’s spokesperson, Ned Price, Sherman discussed areas of bilateral collaboration, the importance of the US-Pakistan relationship, and the way forward in Afghanistan with Qureshi, “Deputy Secretary Sherman emphasised the importance of a coordinated approach to Afghanistan and other issues vital to regional stability,” the statement added.

The other statement on Sherman’s meeting with NSA Yusuf mentioned that the two officials “discussed developments in Afghanistan and ways to advance cooperation across the bilateral relationship”.

Sherman stated at a news conference in Islamabad that she discussed bilateral relations with Pakistani officials as well, “this particular trip was to really consult deeply on how we see the changing circumstances, given the change that has taken place in Afghanistan.”

Later in a tweet, Sherman mentioned that she met Qureshi to “discuss Afghanistan’s future” and “the important and long-standing” US-Pakistan relationship. “We look forward to continuing to address pressing regional and global challenges,” she added.