President George W. Bush's recent visit to Pakistan led to "beginning of a high-level dialogue on economic and trade issues," said Pakistan's Ambassador to the United States Jehangir Karamat. "From our point of view, we should be satisfied that it has been a successful visit," the diplomat told the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP). "We knew exactly what was supposed to happen during this visit, and I think, it has gone exactly in the same way." About the Joint Statement, Karamat said if one analyzed it carefully, he would find that "it's a very positive statement. It very clearly lays down that we have moved beyond relationship based on terrorism, we moved into a relationship which is in many other areas." The ambassador thought that Bush's visit very clearly indicated that it is a strategic relationship, a strategic partnership, and it has many facets to it. Karamat said the visit "has initiated a strategic dialogue, which we hope, will take this relationship deeper and deeper - it has moved into economic and trade area - it has initiated energy dialogue." In his press conference in Islamabad, President Bush disclosed that U.S. Energy Secretary Sam Bodman is coming to work with Pakistan on Pakistan's energy needs - and that, "there's a variety of things we can continue to cooperate on." Karamat added "it's beginning of Joint Commission on Science and Technology, and, most importantly, it's the beginning of a high-level dialogue on economic and trade issues." Hence, he added, "from our point of view, we should be satisfied that it has been a successful visit." --more 13 27 Local Time 10 27 GMT
