APP : Pakistan important strategic partner, Boucher to visit next week: US

Pakistan important strategic partner, Boucher to visit next week: US

APP | WASHINGTON | August 11, 2007

Pakistan is a close strategic ally in wide-ranging areas and top American official for South Asia, Richard Boucher will visit the country next week as part of regular consultations in the region, the State Department said.

“Pakistan is an important strategic partner on a broad range of matters - education, economic investment, counternarcotics, security and counterterrorism. We appreciate the Pakistanis’ sacrifices in confronting extremists and fighting terrorist threats,” a State Department official said while confirming Boucher’s visit to Pakistan.

Boucher, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, will have meetings with Pakistani officials, civil society members, political parties, etc to “discuss political developments, regional security and counterterrorism cooperation,” the official added.

“The visit is part of regular consultations in the region,” the US official said, adding that South and Central Asia is a region of great importance to the United States.

“It’s only fitting that Assistant Secretary Boucher and his staff would make visits to the region regularly,” the official said.