Updated on
Summary
The eagerly awaiting third round of Pak-America strategic dialogue would start from today (Wednesday) in Washington. Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani left Tuesday for United States of America to attend the dialogue. According to diplomatic sources the third round of Pak-US strategic dialogues is going to be started from October 20 and continue till Oct 22 in which issues related to power, agriculture, education and security would be discussed. Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi would lead the Pakistani delegation while US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton would lead US delegation. Strategic Dialogue working group leaders from both governments will report out on the tangible outcomes of their work. Besides Army Chief and FM Qureshi, Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Sheikh and other senior officials will be among the delegation. During the Ministerial-level bilateral Strategic Dialogue that was launched in Washington on March 24-25, 2010 has thirteen separate working groups that have met in Islamabad over the past three months: agriculture; communications and public diplomacy; defense; economics and finance; education; energy; health; law enforcement and counter-terrorism; market access; science and technology; security, strategic stability and nonproliferation; water; and women empowerment Pakistan would try to convince US to make progress in investment in the power and water sector. Sources also told media that Pakistan would adopt a decisive stance on Indias violation of Indus River Water treaty and would demand US to play its role in this regard. Foreign Office Sources told media that Pakistan will demand from US for establishment of Reconstruction Zones (RoZs) in the Tribal Areas while urge various Members of the Congress for methodical legislation and immediate removal of hurdles in this regard, drone technology and stalled dues under the Coalition Support fund. During their stay, COAS, FM will meet US Defense Secretary Robert Gates, United States Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen besides US National Security Advisors and other high ups to throw light on some of the thorny issues like war against terrorism, security, defence and enhancing cooperation on military and other fields in length. Earlier, COAS was seen off at Lahore Airport by Lieutenant General Rashad Mehmood, Corps Commander Lahore and other senior military officials.
