U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham has said Prime Minister Imran Khan is an agent of change and his being at the helm of Islamabad government offers a unique opportunity to change the U.S.-Pakistan relationship.
Speaking in Islamabad after meeting PM Khan, the senator, a supporter of President Donald Trump, praised the Pakistani leader’s support for Afghan peace talks and called for a meeting between Trump and Khan at the earliest.
“I’m going urge him to meet with prime minister (Khan) as soon as practical. I think they will hit it off. Similar personalities,” Graham, who is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said.
After a year of strained relations – when both sides traded allegations – Washington and Islamabad are cooperating to kickstart an Afghan peace process involving talks between the Taliban and Kabul. Zalmay Khalilzad, a Special U.S. envoy also visited Islamabad this week as part of efforts to push such peace talks.
“I’ve seen things change here and all in a positive direction,” the senator said Pakistan under Khan’s leadership.
Graham noted that Khan’s backing for an Afghan peace accord to end the long war will make Trump “far more enthusiastic about the region than he is today”.
“With Prime Minister Khan we have a unique opportunity to change our relationship,” he said, referring to the rough phase in ties due to trust deficit.
The GOP lawmaker favored “strategic engagement” between the U.S. and Pakistan and reaffirmed his support for a free trade agreement to help Pakistani economy.
