The White House announced on Wednesday that President Donald Trump will receive Prime Minister Imran Khan on July 22 for talks on enhancing US-Pakistan cooperation in wide-ranging areas of bilateral and regional interest to both countries.
“The visit will focus on strengthening cooperation between the United States and Pakistan to bring peace, stability, and economic prosperity to a region that has seen far too much conflict,” White House Press Secretary said in a statement.
The statement confirmed the Pakistani leader’s visit a day after the State Department said it had not been announced by the White House.
Regional issues including counterterrorism will also be part of the discussions that take place a year after Imran Khan became prime minister.
“President Trump and Prime Minister Khan will discuss a range of issues, including counterterrorism, defense, energy, and trade, with the goal of creating the conditions for a peaceful South Asia and an enduring partnership between our two countries,” the statement said.
The statement did not specifically mention Afghanistan peace as an area of cooperation.
The war in Afghanistan, the longest US war, is a high-stakes issue for Washington and in response President Trump’s call, Islamabad has been pushing the Afghan Taliban to talk to the U.S. interlocutors for a negotiated end to the conflict through political reconciliation.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has hinted that Washington would like to have some kind of Afghan peace agreement before September this year.
