Sartaj Aziz meets US officials to discuss Afghanistan

The US and Pakistan threw their weight behind an Afghan-led peace and reconciliation process, as visiting Pakistan's National Security Advisor Sartaj Aziz met top American officials to discuss post-2014 situation in the war torn country.
Currently in Washington to attend the US-Pak Strategic Dialogue, Aziz, the Advisor to Pakistan Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs, drove down to the White House yesterday to meet National Security Advisor Susan Rice. He also met Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel at the Pentagon.
Afghanistan, in particular post-2014 situation, in addition to counter terrorism, extremism and regional peace and stability, were the issues prominently discussed at these meetings.

"During the meeting, they reaffirmed both countries' commitment to strengthening the US-Pakistan relationship and advancing shared interests in a stable, secure, and prosperous Pakistan," Patrick Ventrell, spokesperson of the National Security Council, told after the meeting between Aziz and Rice.
"They discussed ways to increase the effectiveness of counter-terrorism cooperation, and reiterated the importance of combating extremism and promoting peace and stability throughout the region," he said, adding the two leaders reiterated their support for an Afghan-led peace process.
Rice and Aziz acknowledged the importance of advancing Afghan peace and reconciliation, he noted.

"They discussed ways to deepen and enhance the US-Pakistan partnership based on the common recognition that this partnership is vital to regional and international security and discussed their countries' shared dedication to nuclear security," Ventrell said.

According to the White House official, the US will continue to work with Pakistan to advance development, promote security, and help create lasting peace and prosperity for all Pakistanis.
At the Pentagon, Aziz and Hagel and General Martin Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, among other things discussed bilateral security relations, a Defence Department official said.
"They discussed the US-Pakistan security relationship and shared security interests," Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Admiral John Kirby said after the meeting.
Aziz was accompanied by the Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, who also holds the portfolio of Water and Power, along with Ambassador to the US Jalil Abbas Jilani.