ISLAMABAD, May 25: The United States is looking into Pakistan’s case for greater market access and will continue to support the ongoing Indo-Pakistan dialogue process to ensure it moves forward. These assurances were held out by visiting US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Christina Rocca during her meeting with foreign secretary Riaz Mohammad Khan here on Wednesday morning.
US ambassador to Pakistan Ryan C. Crocker, Additional Secretary Shahid Kamal and Director General (Americas) Alamgir Babar were also present at the meeting that went on for more than an hour.
Ms Rocca told Mr Khan that the US government was “greatly encouraged” by the India-Pakistan peace dialogue and would continue to nudge both sides to move forward, informed sources told Dawn later.
Describing the meeting as “very positive” a senior official said the discussions focused largely on bilateral issues and the Indo-Pakistan peace process.
On the bilateral front most of the time was given to economic and political aspects, it is learnt.
“Ms Rocca conveyed in clear terms that her government would remain engaged in the region and continue to support the India-Pakistan peace process.”
On the question of greater economic cooperation, specifically in terms of greater market access for Pakistan, Ms told her hosts that her government saw the logic behind it and was looking positively at this area.
“She understood our case for enhanced economic cooperation, trade and investment and assured us that these areas would receive attention,” an informed source in the government said.
“During the meeting Ms Rocca also reiterated the US government’s commitment to a broad-based long-term relationship with Pakistan,” diplomatic sources told Dawn.
In the afternoon Ms Rocca also called on Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz. Their discussions covered a host of bilateral, regional and international issues.
Ms Rocca will call on President Gen Pervez Musharraf and Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri separately on Thursday.
