WASHINGTON, Feb 13: The new chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Robert Menendez, discussed the forthcoming election process in Pakistan with the country’s ambassador, says a statement. Senator Menendez has replaced former Senator John Kerry after the latter’s appointment as Secretary of State. While in the Senate, Mr Kerry served as President Barack Obama’s unofficial envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Ambassador Sherry Rehman, who visited Capitol Hill on Tuesday to meet new congressional leaders, briefed Senator Menendez on recent developments in the bilateral track and assured him of continued engagement with the new Congress to take the relationship to an upward trajectory.

She also explained to the senator “the forthcoming election process and the first peaceful transition of the democratic government in Pakistan”, the statement said.

The situation in Afghanistan, reconciliation process and Pakistan’s efforts to normalise relations with India were also discussed.

Senator Menendez acknowledged Pakistan’s role in stabilising the region and assistance to the Afghan government in the reconciliation process.