The delegation was highly appreciative of Pak Army's accomplishment of cleansing the entire area of North Waziristan right up to the Pak-Afghan border.
Senators also commended the rehabilitation work being carried out by Pak Army to resettle tribals back in their area with dignity, honour and self-esteem.
Later, the delegation also met the soldiers and officers who were seriously injured during initial phases of the operation Zarb-e-Azb and have now voluntarily rejoined the battlefield. The visitors appreciated the determination and grit of all affected Pakistani soldiers and their unparalleled sacrifice for their motherland.
Later, the bipartisan US Senate delegation led by Senator John McCain, Chairman Senate Armed Services Committee called on the Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, on Sunday. Other members of the delegation included Senator Lindsey Graham, Senator Joseph Donnelly and Senator Benjamin Sasse. Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Syed Tariq Fatemi and Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry were also present at the meeting.
Welcoming the US Congressmen, the Adviser reiterated the importance of regular high level contacts and added that parliamentary exchanges were particularly useful to understand each other's perspective on issues of mutual interest and concerns. He also appreciated Senator McCain for his positive comments regarding the importance of the Pakistan-US relations at a time when the region was facing complex challenges.
In this context Senator McCain and his colleagues deeply appreciated the enormous success achieved by Pakistan in its counterterrorism campaign which they said was so impressively visible during their trip to North Waziristan Sunday. The delegation commended the transparent process of FATA stabilization carried out by the Pakistan government.
They wished that other members of the US Congress were also present with them to witness the outcome of the successful military operations in North Waziristan, themselves. The US Congress will be briefed appropriately for continued support to Pakistan in its efforts towards economic development and complete eradication of terrorism from the country, they added.
The Adviser recounted Pakistan's efforts, particularly during the past few months, to keep the Pakistan-US partnership on track as the relationship remained important for ensuring peace and stability in the region. The Adviser underscored the significance of the understanding of the leadership on both sides to make this partnership multidimensional and broader on canvas to cover all issues of mutual interest. He highlighted the important accomplishments under the Pakistan-US Strategic Dialogue and its six specialized Working Groups. With a reference to recent developments concerning the India-US relations, the Adviser underscored the need for maintaining strategic balance in South Asia.
Sartaj Aziz also briefed the US Congress delegation about his recent meetings with the Afghan side, in Islamabad and on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Tashkent on the vital issues of Pakistan-Afghanistan Border Management, Afghan Refugees and the Peace and Reconciliation process. He stated that Pakistan remains committed to the QCG process in Afghanistan, which provided a broad, mutually agreed mechanism aimed at facilitating the government and people of Afghanistan to take the lead in restoring peace, stability and economic prosperity in their country. Insofar as the success of these joint efforts is concerned, no country has move on stake than Pakistan, according Sartaj.
The US delegation reiterated the importance the US government and Congress attached to the stability and continued progress of Pakistan.