PM Sharif leaves for US visit

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif today left for a four-day visit to the US during which he is expected to discuss key bilateral issues, the drawdown in Afghanistan and Indo-Pak ties with President Barack Obama.
Outlining the agenda of his visit, Sharif said Pakistan lays great emphasis on its relations with the US.
"We will focus on enhancement of trade and investment with US. For Pakistan, economic sovereignty is the first step towards political sovereignty," he said in a statement before his departure.
"I will discuss regional security issues with US administration. Democracy is the strength of Pakistan and all institutions are with me to protect the honour and interest of the state and the citizens of Pakistan," he said.

Sharif will first travel to London and then proceed to Washington. This will be his first bilateral official visit to the US in his current term as premier.
It is also the first official visit by a Pakistani premier to the US in five years. Sharif visited New York last month for the UN General Assembly.

An earlier statement from the Foreign Office said Pakistan and the US share convergence on a wide range of issues, including peace and stability in South Asia and Middle East and extremism and terrorism.
Sharif's visit will provide an opportunity to highlight the government's priorities for economic development of Pakistan, to discuss measures to strengthen bilateral cooperation and enhance trade, and to share his vision for peace and stability in our region, the statement said.

The premier has said Pakistan will support the peace process in Afghanistan. The US is keen that Pakistan should play a sincere role ahead of its troop pullout from the war-stricken country.
Sharif has also publicly spoken of his desire for improving ties with India.