Minister of Interior Mr. Ahsan Iqbal
has emphasized the importance of Pakistan-U.S. partnership in achieving common
regional objectives and the promotion of mutual interests. The Minister was
speaking at a round table discussion of U.S. scholars and think tank analysts
at the Middle East Institute in Washington, DC, says a press release received
here today from Washington, DC.
The
Minister noted that the successful rescue by Pakistani security forces of
American national Caitlan Coleman and her family, who had been held captive in
Afghanistan since 2012, in an operation based on intelligence shared by the
U.S. was testament to the value of close cooperation between the two countries.
Minister
Iqbal also briefed the audience about the improved security environment in
Pakistan. He highlighted the dramatic decline in the incidence of terrorist
attacks in Pakistan since 2013, which had restored foreign investor confidence
in the country. The Minister called Pakistan's counter-terrorism strategy,
based on the 20-point National Action Plan, a rare example of success in
the fight against terrorism in the region.
The
Minister, who also holds the portfolio for Planning, Development and Reform,
said his government had turned around the country's economy in the past four
years, through policies of economic reform and infrastructure development. He
termed the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor a transformative project, which
could be an engine for growth and prosperity in South and Central Asia.
