U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton today met Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar in Islamabad, Pakistan.
In her remarks during the meeting with Foreign Minister Khar, Ms. Clinton stressed that the stability of Pakistan and the region directly impacts the security of the United States.
“Therefore, it is in both Pakistan’s and the United States interest to help the Afghan people build a stable, sovereign, and independent nation that is not a source of terrorism or a threat to its neighbors.” -Ms. Clinton
Ms. Clinton highlighted that the United States is committed to the people of Pakistan and to their future. She said the United States believes that their relationship must work to deliver results for both of their people – the Pakistani people and the American people.
“Now, it is no secret that the United States and Pakistan do not always see eye-to-eye, and we will not resolve the differences in our views in any single visit. But it is true that beyond the disagreements that drive the headlines, a number of our most important issues overlap.” -Ms. Clinton
She stressed that the United States recognizes and sympathizes with the fact that violent extremism has taken the lives of thousands of Pakistanis, also thousands of Americans and thousands of Afghans.
“So stopping terrorism is an urgent interest that we share.” -Ms. Clinton
She emphasized that it is also important to the United States that they understand their commitment to a stable, secure, sovereign, prosperous Pakistan.
“The United States sees a strong, stable, secure, prosperous Pakistan as critical to the stability, security, and prosperity of the entire region.” -Ms. Clinton
