As the US prepares to pull out from Afghanistan, it has sought Pakistan's support on ‘our shared interest in regional stability, including a secure and peaceful future for Afghanistan.’ The issue came up when the new US Secretary of State John Kerry called Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari Tuesday, the State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland told reporters Wednesday.
‘Kerry has a longstanding relationship with many Pakistani leaders, and he used the opportunity of the phone call to underscore the continuing importance of an effective, strong, and mutually beneficial US-Pakistani relationship,’ she said
He emphasised that Pakistan and the United States have many shared interests, including fighting terrorism and extremism, supporting democratic civilian institutions, and supporting Pakistan's efforts to increase economic growth, Nuland said. Also discussed was ‘obviously our shared interest in regional stability, including a secure and peaceful future for Afghanistan.’ ‘Kerry, the spokesperson said, noted ‘our ongoing interest in finding a concrete way to act jointly in support of all of these goals, and he made clear that he looks forward to working with President Zardari going forward.’ In his annual State of the Union address to a joint session of the US Congress Tuesday night, Obama announced that 34,000 soldiers will come home from Afghanistan within a year.
‘Kerry has a longstanding relationship with many Pakistani leaders, and he used the opportunity of the phone call to underscore the continuing importance of an effective, strong, and mutually beneficial US-Pakistani relationship,’ she said
He emphasised that Pakistan and the United States have many shared interests, including fighting terrorism and extremism, supporting democratic civilian institutions, and supporting Pakistan's efforts to increase economic growth, Nuland said. Also discussed was ‘obviously our shared interest in regional stability, including a secure and peaceful future for Afghanistan.’ ‘Kerry, the spokesperson said, noted ‘our ongoing interest in finding a concrete way to act jointly in support of all of these goals, and he made clear that he looks forward to working with President Zardari going forward.’ In his annual State of the Union address to a joint session of the US Congress Tuesday night, Obama announced that 34,000 soldiers will come home from Afghanistan within a year.