ISLAMABAD, April 2 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Alice Wells met Pakistani Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa here on Monday discussed regional security environment, especially the peace efforts in Afghanistan, the military said.
Wells has been in Pakistan for almost a week, holding meetings with officials and members of the civil society.
"The Chief of the Army Staff reiterated that Pakistan is committed to peace and stability in the region, particularly in Afghanistan through a national approach," a statement from the army's media wing Inter-Services Public Relations said.
Bajwa insisted that Pakistan also expects other players in the region to play equally positive part, the statement said.
On her part, Wells said that the U.S. is committed to lasting peace and supports all efforts towards that end.
"Both agreed that bilateral convergences should be leveraged to gain positive momentum rather than remaining hostage to perceptions," the statement said.
Wells also met Pakistan's Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua on Thursday. Both sides agreed that the momentum of the peace initiative proposed by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani needs to be carried forward.
Ghani, in his address to the meeting of Kabul Process on Feb. 28, offered to hold an unconditional peace dialogue with the Taliban and the recognition of it as a political party. He also offered the Taliban to open its office in Afghanistan.
This is Wells' second visit to Pakistan this year aimed at continuing the conversation to strengthen bilateral relations and promote peace and security in the region, according to the foreign ministry.
Noting that the U.S. and Pakistan had a long track record of cooperation, Wells emphasized the importance of working together to achieve the common objectives of peace and stability in Afghanistan and the region.
