The United States has appreciated Pakistan’s role in facilitating reconciliation between the Afghan government and the Taliban, says a statement issued in Washington on 21 July. In a meeting with Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Syed Tariq Fatemi in Washington, US Deputy Secretary of State Tony Blinken also appreciated Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s efforts to reach out to India and Afghanistan and hoped that the initiative would help bring peace and prosperity to the region. Mr Blinken lauded “Pakistan’s role in facilitating the reconciliation process between Afghan government and the Taliban,” said a statement issued by the Pakistan Embassy in Washington.