Press Release - Statement by NSC Spokesperson Ned Price on National Security Advisor Susan E. Rice's Travel to Islamabad, Pakistan

National Security Advisor Susan E. Rice visited Islamabad, Pakistan, August 29-30 to confer with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Advisor to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif, and other senior officials. They discussed how the United States and Pakistan can continue to work together on a range of regional and global issues. Ambassador Rice commended Pakistan's support for recent talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban, underscored the U.S. commitment to an Afghan-led peace process, and urged Pakistan to intensify its efforts to counter terrorist sanctuaries inside its borders in order to promote regional peace and stability.

Ambassador Rice extended an invitation to Prime Minister Sharif on behalf of President Obama to visit the White House on October 22, 2015, to further strengthen the U.S.-Pakistani relationship.

Meeting with civil society leaders, Ambassador Rice commended their work in support of human rights, development, and civil liberties in Pakistan and affirmed continued strong U.S. support for their invaluable efforts.