ISLAMABAD (Sputnik), Svetlana Alexandrova — Relations with the United States are important to Pakistan, and Islamabad expects Washington to play a constructive role for stability in South Asia, Pakistan’s President Mamnoon Hussain told Sputnik.
Pakistan also expects the United States to “play a constructive role for strategic stability and balance in South Asia,” the president said.
Addressing the recent boost in United States relations with India, Hussain stated that Pakistan does not mind Washington getting closer with other nations, even its long-time rival.
Relations between Pakistan and India have been marked by decades of military conflict and a long-standing territorial dispute over the Kashmir region.
The historically positive relations between Pakistan and the United States, close allies during the Cold War, grew more strained amid Washington’s War on Terror. Recent polls from both countries have shown that the majority of US and Pakistani citizens view each other unfavorably.
Islamabad has repeatedly lashed out against US drone strikes against alleged militants in Pakistan, deeming this as counterproductive and stating that such attacks fuel anti-US sentiment in the country.
