Dar, US ambassador discuss bilateral, regional issues

ISLAMABAD: US Ambassador to Pakistan Donald Blome Tuesday discussed ‘a broad range of bilateral and regional’ issues with Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. In a statement after the meeting, US Mission spokesperson Jonathan Lalley said Tuesday’s meeting focused on protection of Afghan refugees and asylum seekers, economic cooperation, security and counterterrorism and regional cooperation.

Further details of the Afghan refugees discussed between the two sides were not shared by the US embassy or the Foreign Office.

Earlier, the Foreign Office spokeswoman had said that three years after the Taliban takeover, there were still 25,000 Afghans approved for relocation to the US living in Pakistan. Tuesday’s meeting came at a time when Pakistan has started another phase of deporting Afghan citizens who have no proper documentation and are illegal migrants which Islamabad says caused security concerns. The process, which started last year, has seen nearly 700,000 Afghans returning home — a move criticised by Kabul.

However, after pressure and criticism from human rights groups and the UN, Pakistan recently decided to grant one-year extension to the Afghan refugees holding the Afghan Citizenship Cards. The US embassy also noted after the meeting, “The ambassador welcomed the opportunity to hear from the Deputy Prime Minister on Pakistan’s priorities in the lead-up to the UN General Assembly as Pakistan prepares to begin its term as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council”. Pakistan replaces Japan in 2025 as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.

According to the media reports, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif leaves for New York on September 21 to participate in the UN-sponsored Summit of the Future and the UN General Assembly session. He is expected to address the session on September 24. The Foreign Office commented briefly on the meeting and said, “The discussion covered various aspects of Pakistan-US bilateral relations including avenues for enhanced cooperation in diverse fields. They also discussed matters relating to the upcoming session of the UN General Assembly.”

Meanwhile, Ishaq Dar will undertake an official visit to the United Kingdom from 4-8 September 2024. “In London, the deputy prime minister will meet Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and hold extensive talks with the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Affairs, David Lammy. The Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister will also engage with the members of the UK Parliament and representatives of the British-Pakistani community,” announced the Foreign Office.