ISLAMABAD, July 3 (Xinhua) -- A five-member delegation of the U.S. Senate, headed by Senator John McCain, chairman of the Senate Committee on Armed Services, visited Pakistan's South Waziristan tribal region on Monday, the military said.
The delegation, accompanied by Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa, was briefed about Pak-Afghan border security including recent measures for its improvement through fencing and enhanced surveillance.
The U.S. senators were flown over the tribal area to have view of the border area, newly constructed forts, posts and development works including schools, colleges, hospitals, sports stadium, water supply schemes and roads communication infrastructure, an army statement said.
South Waziristan, which borders Afghanistan, has been cleared by the security forces in major operation in 2009, of the Taliban and other armed groups.
"The delegation having seen the realities on ground acknowledged efforts and sacrifices by Pakistan Army," the statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations said.
The senators reiterated importance of institutionalized Pak-Afghan border security coordination and cooperation mechanism, it further said.
The U.S. delegation was scheduled to visit the Line of Control, the de facto border between Pakistan and India in Kashmir region, which couldn't get through due to bad weather, the army said.
Meanwhile Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday called for political solution to the Afghan problem in a meeting with the delegation of the visiting U.S. senators, the Foreign Ministry said.
The prime minister underscored his government's commitment to good neighbourly relations and highlighted various initiatives to improve relations with Afghanistan and India.
On Afghanistan, he reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to supporting all efforts aimed at lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan.
He said that concerted efforts were needed for a politically negotiated settlement under an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned peace process.
The prime minister called for a strong partnership between the United States, Afghanistan and Pakistan as a prerequisite for achieving sustainable peace in Afghanistan. In this regard, he also stressed the importance of the Quadrilateral Coordination Group mechanism to facilitate Afghan reconciliation.
Thanking the prime minister, Senator McCain agreed that continued close cooperation between the United States and Pakistan is essential for securing peace and stability in the region, the statement said.
He said that the United States attached importance to its relations with Pakistan, which remained a close friend.
"The Senators appreciated the contributions and sacrifices made by Pakistan and the successes achieved in the fight against terrorism," the statement said.
