Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, Pakistan's Ambassador to the United
States, had a busy day on Capitol Hill. Continuing his outreach to key members
of Congress, the Ambassador had meetings with Senator Joni Ernst
(Republican-Iowa), Congresswoman Karen Bass (Democrat-California) and
Congressman Chris Stewart (Republican-Utah). Senator Ernst is a member of the
Senate Armed Services Committee, while Congresswoman Bass and Congressman
Stewart sit on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and House Appropriations
Committee respectively, says a press release received here today from
Washington DC.
In his
back-to-back meetings, Ambassador Chaudhry updated the members of Congress on
recent developments in the context of Pakistan-U.S. relations. He briefed them
on Pakistan's perspective on the region, including the situation in
Afghanistan. Noting the two countries' common aspiration for peace and
stability in South Asia, Ambassador Chaudhry said it was important for Pakistan
and the United States to work together for a political settlement in
Afghanistan.
Ambassador
Chaudhry informed the U.S. legislators that Pakistan had successfully turned
the corner in its fight against terrorism. Pakistan's improved security
environment was paying economic dividends, as evidenced by the country's status
as an emerging market. The Ambassador said greater economic cooperation between
the U.S. and Pakistani corporate sectors would generate jobs and prosperity for
both countries.
The members
of Congress appreciated Ambassador Chaudhry’s briefing. They concurred with the
Ambassador's assessment of the need for close engagement between the United
States and Pakistan in the pursuit of their common goals in the region.
