Islamabad (Agencies): Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Alice Wells arrived in Islamabad on Sunday for a four-day visit, which diplomatic sources termed crucial just ahead of the possible peace deal between the US and Afghan Taliban.
The visit is part of her 10-day tour of the region, during which she has already been to Sri Lanka and India before her arrival in Pakistan.
Wells, according to the Foreign Office spokesperson, is scheduled to have a series of meetings with foreign, interior and finance ministry officials. She will also meet security authorities. The nature of her engagements in Islamabad suggests that the agenda is wide-ranging, covering bilateral issues to regional tensions.
“We are happy to welcome Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Alice Wells to Pakistan! PDAS Wells plans to meet with Pakistani officials and others to discuss progress on various issues in our growing relationship,” the US embassy in Islamabad tweeted.
We are happy to welcome Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Alice Wells to #Pakistan! PDAS Wells plans to meet with Pakistani officials and others to discuss progress on various issues in our growing relationship. #Partners4Prosperity #USPAK #USinPAK #USEmbassyISB pic.twitter.com/FnmsRQOwsO
— U.S. Embassy Islamabad (@usembislamabad) January 19, 2020
Pakistan in return for its efforts for facilitating Afghan peace deal wants the US to play a greater role to persuade India to desist from repressive policies in the disputed territory.
