US tags Pakistan as peace broker in region.

Byline: SHAFQAT ALI

ISLAMABAD -- The trust level between Pakistan and the United States has gone up considerably amid the high-level contacts and meetings.

Yesterday, Alice Wells, Acting Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, called on Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood here to discuss the bilateral and regional issues.

The meeting came ahead of a meeting between Prime Minister Imran Khan and US President Donald Trump in Davos, Switzerland, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum.

PM Imran Khan flew to Davos earlier in the day.

The Prime Minister will hold bilateral meetings with several world leaders including President Trump. Several meetings are also scheduled with a wide range of corporate, business, technology and finance executives and representatives of international financial institutions.

After the meeting between Alice Wells and Sohail Mahmood, a foreign ministry statement said: 'A range of bilateral issues, including political engagement and economic partnership, were discussed. It was emphasized that a strong trade and investment relationship was key to advancing the shared vision of the leadership of both the countries for a long term, broad-based and enduring partnership.'

The two sides also discussed the recent developments regarding the Afghan peace and reconciliation process. The Foreign Secretary reaffirmed Pakistan's resolve to continue to support the peace process and pursue positive development of Pakistan-Afghanistan relations, said the statement.

Referring to the Foreign Minister's recent visits to Saudi Arabia, Iran and the United States, and his telephone conversations with other counterparts, the Foreign Secretary underscored that Pakistan remained committed to supporting the efforts for de-escalation of tensions and promoting the prospects of a diplomatic way forward on the differences and disputes in the Middle East.

The Foreign Secretary highlighted the grave human rights and humanitarian situation in Indian Held Kashmir, intensified ceasefire violations from the Indian side, belligerent rhetoric of the Indian civil and military figures, and India's aggressive measures along the Line of Control.

'The importance of the international community playing its role in peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute was emphasized,' said the statement.

Officials at the foreign office told The Nation that the US acknowledged Pakistan's role on Afghanistan peace and the talks between...