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For ending Afghan War, US offers Pakistan a ‘free trade agreement’: Report

The United States has offered a free trade agreement (FTA) to Pakistan in return for their assistance in ending the Afghan War, reported the Dawn.

According to the report, US Senator Lindsey Graham, who visited Islamabad this week, is believed to have discussed with Pakistani leaders a proposal for a free trade agreement (FTA) in return for Islamabad’s assistance in ending the Afghan war.

At a news briefing in Islamabad on Sunday, Senator Graham also urged US President Donald Trump to meet Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan and use this “unique opportunity to change (America’s) relationship” with Pakistan from tactical to strategic.

Senator Graham first proposed offering an FTA to Pakistan, after a recent visit to Afghanistan. “If we can go to Pakistan and put a free trade agreement on the table to get the Pakistanis to push the Taliban to the peace table, and you can end the Afghan war,” he said.

Before leaving for Islamabad last week, Senator Graham is believed to have said in close official circles that he would discuss his FTA proposal with Pakistani leaders and also explore the possibility of arranging the Pakistani prime minister’s visit to Washington, the report said.

After the Afghan Taliban said that they had a meeting with the US envoy in Qatar, US has also confirmed that Zalmay Khalilzad, their envoy met them in order to end to the Afghanistan war despite a new major attack claimed by the insurgents.

A Taliban spokesman announced the meeting with Khalilzad on Monday, saying that the United States accepted an agenda of “ending the occupation of Afghanistan and preventing Afghanistan from being used against other countries in the future.”

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