In a confirmation made by the foreign office spokesperson on Sunday, Pakistan is set to host successive visits by senior US officials, marking a continuation of bilateral consultations between the two nations.
According to Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, the foreign office spokesperson, Pakistan and the United States are actively engaged in discussions on a spectrum of issues, prompting the need for reciprocal visits to facilitate and further these consultations.
Scheduled to commence on December 4, Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, Julieta Valls Noyes, is expected to visit Pakistan until December 6.
Following her visit, the Special Representative for Afghanistan, Thomas West, is slated to be in Islamabad from December 7 to 9. Subsequently, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Pakistan, Elizabeth Horst, is scheduled to visit from December 9 to 12.
The spokesperson for the foreign office emphasised that these visits are integral to the ongoing negotiations between Pakistan and the US, with a primary focus on addressing issues pertaining to Afghanistan. Notably, the discussions are not confined solely to matters related to Afghanistan but encompass a broader spectrum of bilateral concerns.
According to the US State Department, Julieta Valls Noyes will engage with senior government officials as well as representatives from non-governmental organisations and international partners.
The purpose of her visit is outlined as discussions on “shared efforts to protect vulnerable individuals and accelerate safe, efficient relocation and resettlement of Afghan refugees in the US immigration pipeline.”
These diplomatic engagements underscore the commitment of both nations to maintain an open dialogue and collaborate on multifaceted challenges, with a particular emphasis on the evolving situation in Afghanistan.
