Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Thursday met with United States (US) lawmakers at Capitol Hill in Washington DC as a part of his diplomatic trip to the US.

The foreign minister in his meeting with the US Senate leadership discussed US-Pakistan relationship, the situation in South Asia, the Afghan peace process, and recent developments in the Middle East.

The foreign minister also briefed the senators on India’s ongoing lockdown in occupied Kashmir, and “its implications for regional security”.

“Peace and stability in South Asia would remain elusive until the Kashmir dispute was resolved in accordance with international law and the wishes of the Kashmiri people,” Qureshi informed the senators, according to a Foreign Office press release. 

Discussed our bilat. relationship, Pakistan’s contribution to the Afghan Peace Process, recent ME tensions & India's illegal lockdown in Occupied J&K with its implications for regional security until peaceful resolution in line with the Kashmiris' right to self determination. https://t.co/E4EXotMd2R

— Shah Mahmood Qureshi (@SMQureshiPTI) January 16, 2020

The senators also lauded Pakistan’s role in the Afghan peace process and requested Islamabad for its continued support. The foreign minister assured the senators that Pakistan was committed to the Afghan political reconciliation process.

Qureshi noted that the history of Pakistan-US relationship was testimony to the value of working together. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s resolve to continue to play a constructive role and to work with the United States to bring peace in the region.

“Pakistan is for peace and we would do whatever we can to promote and facilitate peace,” said Qureshi while referring to Pakistan’s role in defusing tensions in the Middle East.

The Foreign Office said that the senators agreed with Qureshi on the need for continued cooperation between the two countries. They believe that cooperation was needed to achieve each other’s common objectives on the bilateral and regional fronts.

The meeting was attended by Republican Senator Jim Risch and Democratic Senator Bob Menendez, Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Asia Senator Mitt Romney, and Democratic Ranking Member of the Asia Subcommittee Senator Chris Murphy.

The foreign minister also held separate meetings with members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the Pakistan Caucus of the US Congress.