Washington, D.C., : “Pakistan and the United States should continue to invest in rebuilding their relationship, maintain strong security ties, improve intelligence cooperation, resume sales of advanced military platforms, and maintain Pakistan’s US-sourced defense equipment,” Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States said.
“This is critical to regional security and countering the rising tide of terrorism, which also threatens the interests of the US and its allies,” he continued.
Ambassador Masood Khan made these remarks while addressing the annual Pakistan conference titled “Looking Back, Looking Ahead: Assessing US-Pakistani Relations” organized by the South Asia Institute Wilson Center in association with the International Academy of Letters USA.
Addressing a packed hall of politicians, scientists, intellectuals, corporate leaders, members of the think-tank community and representatives of the Pak-American community, the ambassador noted that the prospects for Pakistan-US relations are bright. “We share values, our security and economic interests are intertwined, and our ties strengthen the aspirations of our two nations,” the ambassador said.
Noting that both countries have leveraged their bilateral relations for their respective strategic interests, Masood Khan said they are developing a practical plan to deepen their understanding and ensure security and prosperity for all.
“In this era of renewed strategic competition, the US and Pakistan would build on existing partnerships and explore new horizons to set the parameters of mutual interest,” Masood Khan said.
“We should not base our engagement on a mismatch of expectations. Our ties should be anchored in ground realities even as we seek stronger security and economic partnerships. Secondly, one or two problems should not hold the entire relationship hostage,” the ambassador said.
Ambassador Khan highlighted Pakistan’s demographic dividend, technological advancements and huge market opportunities and urged American investors and businesses to tap into the country’s potential.
Masood Khan projected security, economic and strategic components as new areas of cooperation between the two countries and noted that security cooperation has its own significance. “That amounts to building trust,” he noted. The ambassador highlighted high-level defense talks, frequent meetings, military exercises including Inspired Union-2024, Falcon Talon and Red Flag, which promoted defense cooperation between the two countries.
To combat the scourge of terrorism, the Ambassador informed the audience that Pakistan has launched Azm-i-Istehkam or Resolute Stability – to counter and dismantle terrorist networks. “For that we need sophisticated small arms and communications equipment,” he said.
Ambassador Masood Khan outlined numerous areas of successful cooperation between Pakistan and the US, including energy, agriculture, climate change, health, education, science and technology, expressing gratitude for US assistance and continued partnership while welcoming the launch of new initiatives in these areas. .
He invited the attention of the participants to the huge investment opportunities in IT, energy, agriculture and minerals.
“SIFC priority projects have opened up new opportunities for US technology in agriculture, ICT and mining projects,” the ambassador said.
Ambassador Masood Khan also appreciated the invaluable contributions of the Pakistani-American community and termed them as a shared asset for both nations.
On the Pak-China relationship, Masood Khan said that Pakistan’s stance “is neither one of strategic autonomy nor of strategic neutrality; but one that can be called the strategic dual dyad model chosen by the major countries of the Global South.’
“Both the US and China are important to Pakistan in their own right, neither at the expense of the other, as we believe they are not conflicting goals,” he reiterated.
“Pakistan was a strategic bridge between the US and China in the early 1970s. Now we can be an economic intermediary. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) can link the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the US-led Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII),” the ambassador said.
Masood Khan also warned that the Indo-Pacific Strategy (IPS) should not become a vehicle to highlight regional imbalances.
As for India, the ambassador said Pakistan was always keen to engage in dialogue with India to resolve lingering issues like the Kashmir dispute. “Elections in two countries should offer a new space for diplomacy,” he said.
He noted that the US should make Pakistan a diplomatic return partner in Kabul, if planned, and work with Pakistan in an inclusive environment to fight terrorism and the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan.
In conclusion, Ambassador Masood Khan thanked Michael Kugelman, Director, South Asia Institute, and Mr. Ghazanfar Hashmi, President, International Academy of Letters, USA, for organizing this important and successful conference on Pakistan.
