WASHINGTON: Prime Minister Imran Khan has said after his visit and interaction with the US leadership, the people of America will have better understanding about Pakistan.
Speaking to the US Congressmen at the Capitol Hill, he said Pakistan had always close ties with the United States and expressed the hope to get back to the relationship, which was based on truth and trust as well as mutual respect.
Imran Khan expressed the hope that from now onward relationship between the two countries would be at different level.
He said unfortunately, he felt that Pakistan was not understood there, specifically in the last 15 years when the war on terror was being fought in Afghanistan and on the border of Pakistan.
More than 70,000 Pakistani people died and our economy suffered billions of dollars loss in the war against terror.
The Prime Minister said Pakistan was fighting the US war on terror while Pakistan had nothing to do with the 9/11.
Al Qaida was in Afghanistan and there were no militant Taliban in Pakistan.
He said it was very important that he met President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and explained to them the way forward that the relationship has to be based on mutual trust.
He said Pakistan was trying its level best to bring Taliban to the negotiating table and a significant achievement has been made in this regard. He, however; said it was not an easy task.
He said the entire country including army and security forces are on same page for a common objective of peaceful solution to the Afghan conflict.
Earlier, US Congress Speaker Nancy Pelosi, other congressmen and Co-Chair of Pakistan-US Caucus welcomed and warmly received the prime minister at the Capitol Hill.
They appreciated the role Pakistan was playing especially in the Afghan peace process.
They admitted that Pakistan had suffered a lot in the war against terror and militancy.
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi also saluted the endeavors of Prime Minister Imran Khan for maintaining peace in the region.
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, while addressing the ceremony, said the role of congress is vital to further fortify the ties between Pakistan and the United States.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan has praised the members of social media wing of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) over highlighting positive prospects of his recent visit to the United States (US).
PM Khan, in his latest Twitter message, said, “I would like to thank the volunteers of PTI social media who worked round the clock during our US visit, giving timely updates and capturing the positive mood in DC.”
During his three-day visit, the prime minister met with US President Donald Trump at White House.
He also met other key US leaders, including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and addressed a large crowd of overseas Pakistanis in the Capital One Area in Washington DC.
The PM also had meetings with the delegation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.
Moreover, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) announced earlier in the day to give an exemplary reception to PM Imran Khan on his return from the successful US visit.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan has arrived in Doha Qatar for a brief stopover on his way back home after completing his U.S. visit.
PM will be staying here for a short while before boarding his flight for Islamabad. Qatari Prime Minister Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani received the Prime Minister at Hamd International Airport.
Advisor on Commerce and Trade Razzaq Dawood, Special Assistant Zulfiqar Bukhari and Secretary Foreign Affairs Sohail Mehmood are also accompanying the Prime Minister.
Prime Minister Imran Khan left for Pakistan in the wee hours of Wednesday after completion of three-day official visit to the United States, Dunya News reported.
Earlier, Prime Minister Imran Khan left for Pakistan in the wee hours of Wednesday after completion of three-day official visit to the United States.
During his US visit, Prime Minister Imran Khan held meetings with US President Donald Trump, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, US House speaker Nancy Pelosi and other high ranking officials and politicians.
Prime Minister also held meetings with International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation, president of World Bank, US investors and leading businessmen during his stay in the United States. He also addressed a big Pakistani community gathering at the Capitol One Arena in Washington. – NNI