ISLAMABAD: US Ambassador in Pakistan Donald Blome met caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani on Tuesday to discuss a broad range of bilateral issues, including the safe and efficient processing of Afghan citizens eligible for relocation or resettlement in the United States.

According to US Mission spokesperson Jonathan Lalley, the ambassador highlighted the two countries’ mutual interest in ensuring the safety and security of refugees and asylum seekers, and the importance of putting in place appropriate screening mechanism so that individuals with legitimate claims of credible fear are not placed in the harm’s way.

Minister meets UK envoy

In a related development, British High Commissioner in Pakis­tan Jane Marriott called on caretaker Interior Minis­ter Sarfaraz Bugti and thanked him for facilitation in the relocation of Afghan refugees to the United Kingdom.

The British high commissioner was told that the conduct of peaceful, free and fair elections ranked on top of the caretaker government’s priorities.

Mr Bugti said the government will provide full support to the Election Commission of Pakistan in the conduct of upcoming elections.

The two sides during the meeting agreed to further enhance bilateral relations between the two countries in diverse fields.

The interior minister said Pakistan attaches great importance to its friendly relations with the UK.

He also appreciated the role of the Pakistani community in the UK in the progress of the two countries.

Published in Dawn, November 1st, 2023

Opinion

Editorial

Border clashes
19 May, 2024

Border clashes

THE Pakistan-Afghanistan frontier has witnessed another series of flare-ups, this time in the Kurram tribal district...
Penalising the dutiful
19 May, 2024

Penalising the dutiful

DOES the government feel no remorse in burdening honest citizens with the cost of its own ineptitude? With the ...
Students in Kyrgyzstan
Updated 19 May, 2024

Students in Kyrgyzstan

The govt ought to take a direct approach comprising convincing communication with the students and Kyrgyz authorities.
Ominous demands
Updated 18 May, 2024

Ominous demands

The federal government needs to boost its revenues to reduce future borrowing and pay back its existing debt.
Property leaks
18 May, 2024

Property leaks

THE leaked Dubai property data reported on by media organisations around the world earlier this week seems to have...
Heat warnings
18 May, 2024

Heat warnings

STARTING next week, the country must brace for brutal heatwaves. The NDMA warns of severe conditions with...