WASHINGTON

The Pakistan Caucus of the United States Congress hosted Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi at the Capitol Hill on Thursday.

The event was attended by Congressional Pakistan Caucus Chair Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Democratic Co-Chair Congressman Thomas Suozzi, Republican Co-Chair Congressman Jim Banks as well as other members of the Caucus.

The meeting was also joined by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Eliot Engel and House sub-Committee on Asia Chairman Ami Bera.

During the interaction, Foreign Minister Qureshi underscored that Pakistan has always valued its partnership with the United States.

The foreign minister appreciated the Caucus for its role in further improving bilateral relations between Pakistan and the United States which were already on an upward positive trajectory over the last year.

Qureshi also briefed the Caucus about government of Pakistan's vision for socio-economic progress and human development in the country as well as Pakistan's efforts for regional peace, including its role in facilitating peace in Afghanistan and defeating terrorism.

He emphasized the significance of further strengthening people-to-people and inter-parliamentary linkages between the US and Pakistan and urged Caucus members to play their due role in this regard.

The foreign minister also briefed the Caucus members on the latest situation in Indian Occupied Kashmir and the continuing Indian repression of the Kashmiri people.

The members thanked the minister for his briefing and appreciated Pakistan’s invaluable contributions for regional peace and security.

They also recognized the role of the Pakistani American community in the US which were contributing towards further strengthening bilateral linkages and relations.