Top U.S. diplomat visits Pakistan to discuss economic cooperation

A senior American diplomat held talks with Pakistani officials here on Tuesday on bilateral matters and the two sides agreed to continue efforts to promote the "shared objectives of peace and stability" in the region and diversify bilateral relationship, Pakistani officials said.

Alice Wells, the U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state, met with Pakistani Finance Minister Asad Umar. They discussed the current state of Pak-U.S. relations with focus on economic cooperation and the overall security situation in the region, the finance ministry said in a statement.

Matters related to international cooperation to curb terror financing also came under discussion, the statement said.

Umar said that Pakistan had made huge strides against terrorism in recent years and it will continue to take all possible steps to root out terror financing and money laundering.

Wells also held delegation level talks with senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Interior and Defense.

The meeting discussed the understanding reached between Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo during their talks in Washington last month to "rebuild the relationship based on mutual trust and respect," a foreign ministry statement said.

"Both sides also reviewed the evolving regional situation and peace and stability in Afghanistan," it added.