Pakistan and the United States have concluded their security level talks in Washington on Wednesday, just days before a planned meeting between the two sides’ foreign policy chiefs is to be held in New York.
Inter-Services Intelligence Director-General Lieutenant General Nadeem Anjum spent three days in Washington this week and met with senior security officials. He also met US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and CIA Director William J. Burns.
Neither side publicized the details of the meetings, but the talks are supposed to have centered on bilateral security concerns and the situation in Afghanistan. Washington is of the opinion that Pakistan can help stabilize the war-torn country.
The previous security level talks between the two countries were held in July 2021. The then-national security advisor Moeed Yusuf met with Sullivan at White House. The Pakistani delegation had included former ISI chief Lietenant General Faiz Hameed.
The current ISI chief’s visit comes at a time of unparalleled deterioration in Pakistan-US ties, generated by former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s statements. Khan made the allegation that Washington conspired with opposition leaders to overthrow his government.
At a news briefing on Tuesday, US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price rejected Khan’s accusations, calling them mere speculations and lies. He added that the United States would not let “lies get in the way” of its bilateral relations with Pakistan.
