In partnership with Beaconhouse National University (BNU) Lahore, the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) organized an international conference on July 24, 2024, with the theme “Strengthening Pakistan-US Relations.” Prominent academics, practitioners, and diplomats from Pakistan and the US attended the event.
Highlighting the long history of collaboration and engagement between the two countries, keynote speaker H.E. Donald Blome, Ambassador of the United States of America to Pakistan, spoke on the significance of the US-Pakistan relationship. He emphasized how the United States has acknowledged Pakistan’s potential, especially its vibrant youth and business prospects. Ambassador Blome praised Pakistan’s role in fighting terrorism and emphasized the United States’ dedication to helping Pakistan in some areas, such as education, climate management, renewable energy, economic cooperation, and combatting regional threats. He emphasized that substantial investments in the fields of development, trade, and health are all part of the US-Pakistan alliance, which extends beyond security.
US Ambassador Donald Blome expressed gratitude for Pakistan’s counterterrorism efforts and reaffirmed the US’s commitment to helping Pakistan in a number of areas, including education, climate management, renewable energy, economic cooperation, and combatting regional threats. He spoke at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI), in association with Beaconhouse National University (BNU) Lahore, at an international conference on “Strengthening Pakistan-US Relations.” Mr. Blome talked about the significance of the US-Pakistan relationship, highlighting the two countries’ lengthy history of collaboration and engagement.
“The relationship between the United States and Pakistan is dynamic and multifaceted, encompassing areas like health, trade, defense, and energy security,”
said Mariam Madiha Aftab, Additional Secretary (Americas), Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
She underlined the significance of educational exchanges, security cooperation, economic cooperation, and climate change measures. In her discussion on regional dynamics, Ms. Aftab emphasized the importance of the United States in promoting peace and stability. She also urged a peaceful settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir conflict in accordance with the decisions of the UN Security Council and the wishes of the Kashmiri people.
“The US-Pakistan relationship is dynamic and multifaceted, covering areas such as health, trade, defense, and energy security,” said Ambassador Mariam Madiha Aftab, Additional Secretary (Americas), Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She underlined the significance of educational exchanges, security cooperation, economic cooperation, and climate change measures. In addition to discussing regional dynamics, Ms. Aftab emphasized the importance of the United States in promoting peace and stability and urged a peaceful settlement of the Jammu & Kashmir conflict by the wishes of the Kashmiri people and UN Security Council resolutions.
The Beaconhouse Center for Policy Research (BCPR) Director, Ambassador Mansoor Khan, highlighted the economic, defense, security, and political linkages between Pakistan and the United States, underscoring the complex nature of these partnerships. He declared the opening of a brand-new BNU undergraduate course on Pakistan-US relations.
In areas like education, healthcare, and climate change, the United States has made major contributions to Pakistan’s growth, according to Dr. Neelum Nigar, Director of the Centre for Strategic Perspectives at ISSI. She emphasized that to handle the opportunities and difficulties of the modern world, respect for one another and collaboration are essential.
The Director General of ISSI, Ambassador Sohail Mahmood, gave a thorough summary of the dynamics of Pakistan-US ties, both historically and currently. He saw that the alliance was changing and that the emphasis had shifted from security to areas like commerce, investment, energy, and interpersonal interactions. He observed that bilateral ties followed a cyclical pattern influenced by regional changes, external causes, and a more limited security-centric focus during the previous several decades. He emphasized the need for reasonable expectations, the need for the US to concentrate on Pakistan’s interests and concerns, and the historical significance and cumulative power potential of Pakistan in the new global order.
He urged Washington to take a responsive stance on regional issues, namely the effect of the strategic alliance between the United States and India on Pakistan’s security, particularly within the “Indo-Pacific” framework. He also underlined that Pakistan wanted to be able to negotiate the intricate dynamics of the US-China rivalry quickly and that their relationship would be based more on collaboration than conflict. The alignment of new trade and investment priorities with Pakistan’s shift to geo-economics was emphasized by Ambassador Sohail Mahmood, who cited the reciprocal advantages of previous collaboration, such as Sino-US reconciliation and post-9/11 counter-terrorism measures.
After giving shields to the keynote speaker and chief guest, Ambassador Khalid Mahmood, Chairman of the ISSI Board of Governors, adjourned the first session with a group selfie.
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The New York Center for Foreign Policy Affairs (NYCFPA) is a policy, research, and educational organization headquartered in New York State with an office in Washington D.C. NYCFPA is an independent, non-profit, non-partisan, institution devoted to conducting in-depth research and analysis on every aspect of American foreign policy and its impact around the world. The organization is funded by individual donors. The organization receives no corporate or government donations.