U.S. has expressed desire to work with Pakistan: Pakistan FM

ISLAMABAD, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- Visiting U.S. Acting Assistant Secretary of State Alice Wells on Monday conveyed the U.S. desire to work with Pakistan in furthering the shared objectives of stabilizing Afghanistan, Pakistan Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Wells held talks with Pakistani Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua at the Foreign Ministry in Islamabad at a time when relationship between Pakistan and the U.S. is strained over the Jan. 1 tweet by U.S. President Donald Trump in which he had leveled serious charges against Pakistan including the allegation that the country supports the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani Network.

The visit of Wells is the first visit by a senior U.S. diplomat amid the heightened tension.

Wells noted that as an important country of the region, Pakistan's support was critical to the success of the U.S. strategy for Afghanistan, the statement said.

To this end, Wells underlined the need for strengthening intelligence cooperation between the two sides to improve coordination in counter-terrorism efforts.

The two sides agreed that all initiatives owned and led by the Afghans for seeking a peaceful solution should be supported by the regional countries. Pakistan's positive role in several peace initiatives was appreciated, the Foreign Ministry said.

The visit was part of regular engagement between the two countries on bilateral and regional cooperation.

The Pakistani foreign secretary underscored that the relationship with the United States needs to move forward under an environment of mutual trust and respect, the statement said. Enditem