Islamabad: Pakistan PM Imran Khan on Saturday embarked on a three-day visit to the US to meet President Donald Trump. The visit will focus on strengthening cooperation between Washington and Islamabad to bring peace, stability and economic prosperity in the region.
Days before his scheduled visit, co-founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba and the chief of Jama'at-ud-Da'wah Hafiz Saeed was taken into custody along with other terrorists, a move that many political analysts consider to placate the US administration.
Army staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa and ISI chief Lt Gen Faiz Hameed also accompanied Imran Khan to US.
The two leaders are expected to discuss several issues, including counterterrorism, defense, energy and trade to create the conditions for a peaceful South Asia and an enduring partnership between the two countries.
The Pakistan premier will also meet Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi before returning home on July 23.
According to media reported, Gen. Bajwa would meet US Defence Secretary Patrick M. Shanahan, the new chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley and other senior officials during his visit to the Pentagon.
Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, who is already in Washington, said that Prime Minister would also hold a discussion with delegation of the World Bank.
On July 3, the International Monetary Fund has approved a package worth $6bn to Pakistan.
Islamabad has been playing a key role in Afghan peace talks.
On Friday, ten US lawmakers have written to President Trump urging him to raise the issue of human rights abuses in Pakistan's Sindh province.
Washington has provided more than USD 30 billion in aid to the South Asian country.
