US to elicit Pak, Afghanistan views before adopting new policy for the region

Washington, Feb.24 (ANI): The US would take into account the viewpoints of Pakistan and Afghanistan before deciding on a new strategy for the region.

The US State Department spokesperson, Robert Wood has said that Washington would certainly want Pakistan and Afghanistan to have their say, before the Obama administration's review of policy towards the region.

"We think it is important that Pakistan and Afghanistan, their governments, feed into that review," The Daily Times quoted Wood, as saying.

He said it was necessary to have a wide variety of views because the issue is very intricate, and cannot be worked out without involving all the sides.

"The US officials will present their position and listen to the views of the visiting foreign ministers of the two neighbouring countries," Wood said, while referring to the scheduled visit of the delegates from Pakistan and Afghanistan.

He also informed that Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton has expressed her deep concerns over the volatile situation in the region.

"She (Clinton) believes this is an important opportunity to sit down and discuss these very serious issues, because you know how concerned she is, and other government officials are about the situation on the ground in the region," Wood added.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, and his Afghan counterpart Rangin Dadfar Spanta, along with other top officials of both the countries, will be holding talks with the US officials at review consultative meetings later this week. (ANI)