ISLAMABAD, July 3 (Xinhua) -- A visiting senior U.S. diplomat and Pakistan's Army Chief Qamar Javed Bajwa agreed on continued engagement at multiple levels on Tuesday, the military said.
U.S. Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Alice Wells and Bajwa "reaffirmed the commitment towards the common goal of peace and stability in the region and discussed measures towards that end," an army statement said.
During the meeting, they exchanged views on issues of mutual interest, regional security and cooperation between both the countries, the statement from the army's media wing Inter-Services Public Relations said.
The U.S. official "commended the sacrifices and resilience of the people and armed forces of Pakistan and appreciated the role Pakistan Army has played in battling the scourge of terrorism."
On Monday, Wells held talks with Pakistan's Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua and discussed bilateral and regional matters, focusing on efforts to press the Taliban to come to the negotiation table.
The U.S. diplomat landed in Pakistan on Sunday after concluding her two-day visit to Afghanistan, where she met with top Afghan leaders.
The United States faces a dilemma over fragile peace in Afghanistan because of the Taliban repeated calls for direct talks with the U.S. instead of the Afghan government.
There is an impression that Washington has shown some flexibility in its stance on the possible Afghan peace process. However, there is no major change in its earlier position that the Taliban should talk directly to the Kabul administration.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo hinted last month the Washington is willing to join the talks with the Taliban along with the Afghan government.
"The United States stands ready to work with the Afghan government, the Taliban, and all the people of Afghanistan to reach a peace agreement and political settlement that brings a permanent end to this war," Pompeo said in a statement on June 16. There is no response from the Taliban to the U.S. statement.
