ISLAMABAD, MAR 29 (DNA) : Acting State Department South and Central Asia Assistant Secretary Alice Wells arrived in Islamabad on Wednesday to discuss matters pertaining to terrorism and bilateral ties.

Alice Wells will meet with US Embassy staff and multiple Pakistani officials. She is also expected to visit Karachi later.

‘In Islamabad, she [Wells] will meet with US Embassy staff and several senior Pakistani government officials, international organisation leaders, and members of the private sector,” a statement released by US State Department said.

“While in Islamabad, Wells will discuss our South Asia strategy and Pakistan’s stated commitment to eliminate all terrorist groups present in its country, as well as our shared interest in building economic and commercial ties that benefit both nations,” it added.

The senior official will also travel to Karachi to meet with government officials and the business community.

On March 11, Wells had stated that US believes Pakistan can play a much more important role in shaping the Afghan Taliban’s behaviour.

She stressed on Islamabad’s critical role to provide incentives to the Afghan Taliban for undertaking negotiations with the Ashraf Ghani government.

Wells earlier said the US President Donald Trump administration had calibrated a very different relationship with Islamabad than other administrations.  “We have gone much further in underscoring the importance and the centrality of this issue in our ability to expand relations with Pakistan.”