McCain said "close cooperation between the US and Pakistan was essential for securing peace and stability in the region" at the meeting with Sharif and other top Pakistani officials in Islamabad, according to a statement from the prime minister's office. He also "attached importance to (US) relations with Pakistan, which remained a close friend and ally", the statement continued.
Sharif also called the Pakistan-US partnership "essential", and reiterated Pakistan's commitment to an Afghan-led peace process in Afghanistan, with strong relations between Washington, Kabul and Islamabad a "prerequisite", according to the statement. Later Monday the senators flew with the military over South Waziristan in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas to see progress on infrastructure built there with US assistance, including roads and border outposts, and dam and irrigation projects. A statement from the military said they were also briefed on border security, including Pakistan's bid to fence the frontier with Afghanistan.
The Senate Armed Services Committee has legislative oversight of US military affairs. Other members of the delegation, which arrived Sunday and will leave Monday, included Senator Lindsey Graham, Senator Elizabeth Warren, Senator David Perdue and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse. On Sunday they met with top foreign affairs official and the chief of its powerful military. Last week, the US imposed sanctions on Syed Salahuddin, senior leader of the Kashmiri militant group Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, to the dismay of Pakistan after a meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump.
Sharif stressed Pakistan's belief in Kashmir's right to self-determination in the meeting with the US senators Monday, the statement from his office said, calling on Washington to help find a resolution to the nearly 70-year old dispute.
INP ADDS: A delegation of US Senate (Arms Committee) headed by Senator John McCain along with the Chief of the Army Staff (CoAS) visited South Waziristan Agency on Monday. The delegation was briefed about Pak-Afghan border security including recent measures for its improvement through fencing and enhanced surveillance. The delegation was also briefed on socio-economic development efforts in the agency, an ISPR statement issued on Monday said.
The delegation was flown over the agency to have a view of the border area, newly constructed forts/posts and development works including, school, colleges, hospitals, sports stadium, water supply schemes and the road communication infrastructure.
The delegation having seen the realities on ground acknowledged efforts and sacrifices by the Pakistan Army and the local tribes for re-establishing peace and order in the area. The senators reiterated importance of institutionalized Pak-Afghan border security coordination and cooperation mechanism. Later, the delegation was scheduled to visit LoC which couldn't get through due to bad weather. The CoAS thanked the senators for their visit and support in socio-economic uplift of Fata.
Earlier upon arrival in Wana, the delegation was received by Commander Peshawar Corps Lt-General Nazir Ahmed Butt and GOC Wana, the statement concluded.
Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2017