Monitoring Desk
ISLAMABAD/WASHINGTON: Pakistan’s Ambassador to US Masood Khan said on Saturday that Pakistan was eager to establish a strategic, political, and economic relationship with the US, and the two nations were currently engaging in bilateral diplomacy to accomplish these goals.
US-Pakistan relationship
During a talk at the World Affairs Council, a think tank in Seattle, Washington, Masood Khan said that the US-Pakistan relationship is not an artificially crafted or a fake relationship, and instead there is a natural ambition to further it on both sides. “But the people of Pakistan and the United States are what give Pak-US ties their actual power,” he said.
He said that the presence of 1 million Pakistanis in the US, mostly professionals, was ‘an abiding link and a strong bond between the two nations.
Former ambassador Asif Chaudhry while moderating the event, said that the roots of the relationship between the Pak-US were deep. During the past year, he said, the two countries clarified their intent to continue their cooperation in strategic stability, regional security, and counter-terrorism. “We promoted closer ties in investment, trade, health, agriculture, energy sector, and education.”
Mutual Challenges for US and Pakistan
Masood Khan said that climate change was a mutual challenge for both Pakistan and the US, and a vast scope existed to expand our relationship in building a resilient climate infrastructure in Pakistan.
“I am confident that the United States and Pakistan remain relevant to each other in the coming years.”
The ambassador said that Covid-19, food and fuel hyperinflation, and the most recent terrible floods as the most crippling elements that damaged Pakistan’s economy while discussing how to improve bilateral economic connections and investment in that country.
He highlighted that Pakistan’s economic prospects were bullish. “The fundamentals of our economy are good, and we will bounce back and are part of the international economic mainstream.”
Encouraging the business community to invest in Pakistan, Masood Khan highlighted the recent impressive growth of the country in the tech sector and added that 64 per cent of Pakistan’s population comprises youth below the age of 30, which is an asset for Pakistan.
Answering a question regarding Pak-India relations, the ambassador regretted the lack of communication between the two nuclear-armed neighbours and said that Pakistan was ready for talks. He, however, said that in the recent past, India had preferred non-engagement.
“We want the United States, particularly the civil society, to get involved, use its leverage to persuade New Delhi to start a dialogue with Pakistan to resolve long-standing issues, especially the Jammu and Kashmir dispute,” he said.
On Pak-Afghan relations, the ambassador said there was volatility in bilateral relations owing to the hideouts of Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan in Afghanistan. Masood Khan reiterated Pakistan’s firm stance of not tolerating terrorism against the country.
He said: “In Afghanistan, Pakistan and the United States both share the goals of promoting inclusive governance, defending the rights of women and girls, and combating terrorism.
On recent floods in Pakistan, he thanked the US for announcing US$100 million, in addition to the US$ 100 million already contributed to flooding response, capacity building, and food security.
The ambassador urged the audience- both present in-person and attending the event virtually- to have faith in Pakistan and Pak-US relations and play their part in removing misgivings among the two countries and their people. “Genuine positive images and perceptions should replace misperceptions,” he said.
