ISLAMABAD, OCT 10 (DNA) -Pakistan has to show patience, understanding and honesty of purpose to resolve issues with the United States (US) and Afghanistan without compromising on its core national interests.

The US and Pakistan need to find a middle ground and find compromises to work together towards shared mutual interests, especially in Afghanistan because both sides have had physical, psychological, and social wounds due to the four-decade long war in the region.

Stability and order in Afghanistan is a primary interest of both Pakistan and the US. However, bilateral relations between the three countries should also develop independent of each other.

These were some of the recommendations put forward at the final day of the Two-Day National Conference on ‘Irritants in Pakistan-US Relations: Way Forward’ organized by the Islamabad Policy Research Institute, here in Islamabad.

In the session on ‘Approaches to Overcome Trust Deficit’ chaired by Ambassador (R) ShahidM.G. Kiani, ‎DrTughralYaminAssociate Dean, Department of Peace and Conflict Studies, National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad delivered a presentation on‘Afghanistan Crisis and Pakistan-US Disagreements on Operational Aspects of Countering Terrorism’. DrYamin shared that both countriesrealize the importance of the other, but each has its own priorities guiding the bilateral relationship based on the prevailing international and regional environment.

In his presentation on ‘Pakistan-US Relations under Trump Administration: Continuity or Change’,Professor DrRasulBakshRais from the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), Lahore discussed the Afghan endgame and Pakistan-US relations and contended that wars cannot be won decisively and it is, thus, important for transfer of security responsibility to the Afghans, focusing on building Afghan forces and continuing negotiations with the Taliban.

Concluding the two-day conference, Acting President IPRI,Brig (R) SI(M) SohailTirmizithanked the distinguished chairpersons, speakers and participants for their enthusiastic participation.

 He said that the conference discussions were exhaustive and extremely productive in highlighting various challenges and the prospects for improving the Pakistan-US relationship.

‘The discourse over the last two days has been cohesive, intellectually rewarding and practical, and will be shared with policymakers within the Government of Pakistan. The proceedings will also be published in the form of a book,’ he announced.=DNA