Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, accompanied by their respective delegations, met in Islamabad on 19 July 2010 for the 2nd Ministerial Pakistan – U.S. Strategic Dialogue.

As suggested by Foreign Minister Qureshi, the Dialogue’s thirteen sectoral working group meetings were held in Islamabad in May, June and July and completed their work ahead of the Ministerial engagement today. The meetings provided an opportunity for senior officials from both governments to discuss possibilities for cooperation.

The joint sectoral working groups include: agriculture; communication and public diplomacy; defence and security; economy/finance; market access; education; energy; health; law enforcement and counter-terrorism; science and technology; strategic stability and no-proliferation; water; and women’s empowerment.

Foreign Minister Qureshi and Secretary Clinton expressed great satisfaction on the progress with their Dialogue to date and the growing cooperation between their governments.

Secretary Clinton conveyed the United States’ support for Pakistan’s socio-economic advancement. In this context, she said the United States would, in particular, support programmes and projects in the priority areas of energy and food security and social sector development. Secretary Clinton announced U.S. assistance for Signature Projects in energy, water and health.

The United States will also continue to assist Pakistan in reconstruction and rehabilitation in areas that have been affected by terrorism, especially Swat, Malakand and South Waziristan Agency.

The United States assured Pakistan of its continued support through the Kerry-Lugar-Berman economic assistance package and through international financial institutions. Steps will also be taken to promote corporate sector cooperation and business-to-business interaction.

The United States will continue to support Pakistan’s efforts to enhance its trade by seeking greater market access and establishing Reconstruction Opportunity Zones. Both sides expressed the desire to negotiate a Bilateral Investment Treaty.

The United States expressed its support for Pakistan’s counter-terrorism efforts and lauded the sacrifices made by Pakistan’s law enforcement agencies and security forces.

The Government of Pakistan expressed its continued commitment to eliminate extremism and militancy and to undertake needed legal and structural reforms in order to promote good governance and open the way to economic growth, development and prosperity for the Pakistani people.

Secretary Clinton expressed U.S. support for Pakistan’s stability, security, economic and social development and prosperity.

Both sides also shared perspectives on the regional security situation and reaffirmed the importance of advancing stability and peace in Afghanistan and the region.

Both sides affirmed the importance they attach to enhancing this strategic partnership and to further deepening and broadening mutually beneficial cooperation between the United States and Pakistan.

It was agreed that the sectoral working groups will meet again prior to the next session of the Strategic Dialogue to be held in Washington, D.C. before the end of this year.

 

 

Islamabad

19 July 2010