ISLAMABAD: The second edition of the ‘revitalised’ Pak-US Strategic Dialogue opened here on Monday with focus on advancing the bilateral relationship.

The first round of the ministerial meeting was co-chaired by Adviser to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs and National Security Sartaj Aziz and US Secretary of State John Kerry at the Foreign Office.

Secretary Kerry reached Islamabad in the afternoon from Ahmedabad (India), where he had gone to attend an investment conference.

It’s for the first time that Secretary Kerry’s schedule is being kept a tightly guarded secret due to heightened security concerns.

“In-depth discussions, covering the entire spectrum of bilateral relations and other issues of mutual interest, were held during the first round of talks under Pakistan-United States Strategic Dialogue held this evening,” a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

PM seeks greater market access for Pak products

The two sides would meet again on Tuesday for continuing the talks.

This is the second round of the ministerial-level Strategic Dialogue since its resumption in 2013. The first round was held in Washington in January last year.

The Strategic Dialogue started in 2010 and three editions were held in a year before the process got suspended due to challenging events of 2011.

The dialogue currently covers five areas of cooperation which are discussed through working groups namely Energy; Security, Strategic Stability, and Non-proliferation; the Defence Consultative Group; Law Enforcement and Counter-terrorism; and Economics and Finance.

The progress in the working groups was discussed during the ministerial meeting.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in a meeting with Secretary Kerry after the first round of talks mentioned the progress in working groups. “All the five working groups have made substantial progress, particularly the working groups on Energy and Defence,” a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office said.

While the thrust would be on taking the bilateral relationship forward, the two sides at the ministerial meeting are specifically discussing the implementation of plan for promoting trade, cooperation in energy sector, specifically Dassu and Diamer-Bhasha Dam projects, and the holding of a business opportunity week in Islamabad in March.

The prime minister highlighted Pakistan’s focus on greater market access for Pakistani products and US investment in Pakistan. He hoped that the Business Opportunities Conference to be held in Islamabad in March this year would receive good response from US investors. The prime minister also appreciated US support for Dassu and Diamer-Bhasha dam projects.

The two sides are expected to deliberate on developments in Afghanistan, where US has entered a new phase after the completion of Isaf mandate and beginning of new ‘Resolute Support Mission’, which focuses on training, advising and assisting the Afghan defence and security forces.

The US side would also be given an update on the progress in Operation Zarb-i-Azb. The Pakistani side would share its perspective on the impact of operation in North Waziristan on security of Afghanistan and the region.

Secretary Kerry, in his conversation with Mr Sharif, said the US would continue to support Pakistan in effectively combating terrorism and also in addressing other challenges.

The US embassy, meanwhile, said in a statement that the revived dialogue “serves to advance shared interests in a stable, secure, and prosperous Pakistan and acknowledge the US-Pakistan partnership’s role in promoting regional and international security”.

Published in Dawn, January 13th, 2015

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