New York: U.S President-elect Donald Trump has said that Pakistan is a fantastic country and he would love to visit the place. "Please convey to the Pakistani people that they are amazing and all Pakistanis I have known are exceptional people", CBS quoted Trump, as saying.
President-elect Donald Trump, center, eats dinner with Mitt Romney, right, and Trump Chief of Staff Reince Priebus at Jean-Georges restaurant, in New York. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
US President-elect Donald Trump and Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday discussed how their countries can develop "a strong working relationship", according to Trump's transition team.
The two leaders "had a productive conversation about how the US and Pakistan will have a strong working relationship in the future", the transition team said in a statement.
Describing Sharif as a person with a good reputation, Trump said Sharif is a terrific guy and is doing amazing work which is visible in every way.
Trump told Sharif in a telephonic conversation that "he is looking forward to a lasting and strong personal relationship" with him, it added.
Although Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Trump had spoken when Modi called him to congratulate him on his victory soon after the election results were announced, the conversation with Sharif was the first with a South Asian leader after the beginning of the transition process.
(AP Photo)
The tenor of Trump's outreach to Pakistan might surprise some who had expected him to take a strong line against Islamabad because of his criticism of that country and vehement opposition to Islamist terrorism during the campaign.
But the friendlier tone he has taken was in keeping with other assertions he made acknowledging the special risks Pakistan posed with its nuclear weapons and its "semi-stable state".
Because of that, he said in a TV interview during the campaign: "We have a little bit of a good relationship. I think I'd try and keep it."
Stating that Pakistan is amazing country with tremendous opportunities, Trump said, "Pakistanis are one of the most intelligent people and I am ready and willing to play any role you want me to play to address and find solutions to the outstanding problems."
"It will an honour and I will personally do it. Feel free to call me any time even before 20th January, that is before I assume my office," he said.
(AP Photo)
Pakistan's Press Information Bureau had released a candid read out of a phone conversation that reportedly took place between Donald Trump and Nawaz Sharif.
Background:
Last month, in an interview to The Hindustan Times, Trump had called the situation between India and Pakistan "very, very hot tinderbox" and offered to "mediate or arbitrate", if asked to.
India opposes any third party involvement in its bilateral disputes with Pakistan.
During his campaign, Trump criticised Pakistan for allowing some terrorist groups to operate from its soil.
He ridiculed President Barack Obama's administration for not being able to help the jailed doctor who helped the US track down and kill Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, who was sheltering in Pakistan.
After Trump's election, Islamabad's foreign policy chief Sartaj Aziz said his country was willing to work with him in fighting terrorism.
