Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s first meeting with US President Donald Trump on July 22 will help “reinvigorate” the bilateral ties and during the visit he would also highlight the need to resolve “disputes” through dialogue and promote peace in South Asia, the foreign office has said.
The White House and Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairson Wednesday announced Prime Minister Khan’s maiden visit to the US at theinvitation of President Trump, ending some confusion in both capitals.
The ministry said that Prime Minister Khan will visit the USon July 21 to 23.
“This would be the first summit-level engagementbetween Pakistan and the United States since both leaders assumed theirrespective offices,” it said in a statement.
During the visit, Khan and Trump would have wide-ranginginteraction at the White House on July 22 covering bilateral and regionalmatters, it said.
Geo News, quoting diplomatic sources, claimed the visit hadbeen finalised after hectic behind-the-scene efforts by the two sides throughthe diplomatic channels.
Officials said Khan would share his perspective on theAfghan endgame as well as how to build trust between the Pakistan and theUnited States.
During his various engagements in Washington, the Prime Ministerwill outline his vision of ‘Naya Pakistan’ and underscore the importancePakistan attaches to a broader and multi-faceted relationship with the UnitedStates, the foreign office statement said.
“The Prime Minister’s visit will help renew and reinvigoratelong-standing ties between Pakistan and the United States,” the statementsaid.
“It will contribute towards building a broad-based,long-term and enduring partnership between the two countries on the basis ofmutual interest and mutual benefit,” it added.
Asked to comment on Khan’s schedule in Washington, statedepartment spokesperson Morgan Ortagus told journalists on Wednesday that shewould reach out to the White House to confirm or not confirm the visit.”To my knowledge, that has actually not beenconfirmed by the White House. I know that I have read the same reports that youhave, but I would reach out to the White House to confirm or not confirm thatvisit, but that’s – we don’t have anything to announce here from the StateDepartment,” Ortagus said.