ISLAMABAD: Director-General (DG) Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lieutenant General Rizwan Akhtar, during his visit to Washington, has held meetings with top US intelligence officials discussing strategic issues and counter-terrorism.
The DG ISI, upon his return Sunday evening, will present a report to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and brief the premier regarding details of his discussions with US officials. Nawaz is expected to depart for the US following the briefing.
PM Nawaz, who was scheduled to leave for London Sunday en-route Washington on his second state visit to the USA, has delayed his visit by a day, well-placed sources told DawnNews.
Read: Sharif shortens visit to US
Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz and Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhary left for Washington early on Sunday ahead of Nawaz in order to hold preparatory meetings with senior US officials.
Speaking to BBC Urdu on Saturday, Sartaj Aziz said the purpose of Nawaz Sharif's visit to Washington is discussion of nuclear safety, not compromising on the extent of Pakistan's defence capabilities.
"Our main priority is to protect national interest and security, and we will not compromise on this," he said.
The National Security Advisor's statement follows international media reports which claim the US is ready to help Pakistan join the Nuclear Suppliers Group if it accepts certain restrictions on its nuclear programme.
The White House later said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and US President Barack Obama are not going to sign a nuclear deal next week but they will discuss the nuclear issue in their meeting.
Aziz said core issues to be discussed during the upcoming talks with the US include Pak-India relations, restoration of peace in Afghanistan and trade and investment opportunities.
Also read: Sharif discusses US trip agenda with top aides
Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi has expressed hope that Nawaz's upcoming visit will strengthen bilateral ties with the US, Radio Pakistan reported.
He said discussions with US officials regarding trade, economy, investment and energy are on the agenda, adding that Pakistan will attempt to gain access to US markets and urge American firms to invest in Pakistan.
Fatemi also said that Pakistan's nuclear programme is purely for peaceful purposes.
Also read: US should refrain from fanning S. Asian instability: Sartaj
Pakistan has been asking the United States for a civilian nuclear deal since 2008 and has also been building its case for admission into the NSG.
In this regard, Pakistan lately updated its export control list for sensitive technologies and goods to make it compatible with international regimes.
The move was praised by the US. But the strings attached to President Obama’s offer are unlikely to be acceptable to Pakistan.
Besides the discussion on the US proposal for Pakistan’s nuclear mainstreaming, Mr Sharif would be telling President Obama about what Pakistan is doing to help restart the reconciliation process that stalled after disclosure about Mullah Omar’s death, and also about what his government was doing to fight terrorism at home.
“Next week, I will host Prime Minister Sharif of Pakistan, and I will continue to urge all parties in the region to press the Taliban to return to peace talks and to do their part in pursuit of the peace that Afghans deserve,” President Obama said on Thursday.
