By APD writer Muhammad Sohail

ISLAMABAD, June 18 (APD) – Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi had a telephonic call with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to discuss bilateral relations and regional peace and security, according to a press release issued here on Monday night.

“Qureshi briefed Secretary Pompeo about the measures being taken by Pakistan in accordance with the National Action Plan and the initiatives being taken by the government to carry out economic restructuring”, said the statement.

“He also spoke about the steps that Pakistan has been taking for compliance with Financial Action Task Force (FATF) action plan. In this context, he highlighted the regulatory mechanisms that have been put in place to curb money laundering and terror financing practices,” the press release stated.

The foreign minister also spoke to his U.S. counterpart on the Afghanistan peace process.

“He reaffirmed Pakistan’s firm resolve to play its positive role in this process and to support an intra Afghan dialogue,” the press release, adding “He also highlighted the Afghanistan Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity as a mechanism for strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries and to have constructive engagement.”

Qureshi who is visiting Britain these days also had a meeting with British Home Secretary Sajid Javid in London earlier in the day.

According to the statement, the two discussed matters of mutual interest that included security cooperation, efforts to curb money laundering, organized crime, and illegal migration.

“Both sides expressed their commitment to deepen their existing partnership in counter-terrorism measures in accordance with the National Action Plan and work on the capacity building of government departments in the fields of investigation and security.

Javid also expressed the Britain government’s commitment to the long term stability and prosperity of Pakistan and pledged to build upon the ongoing cooperation between the two countries.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)