It is welcome to note that the dimensions of Pakistan’s relations with west and other countries are expanding to new horizons including cooperation against climate change effects, natural disasters, environmental issues, people to people contact etc. The Pak-US ties are a case in point.

Yes, the US State Department Counsellor Derek Chollet spokesman, in recent statements, has assured to assist Pakistan come to terms with an “unquestionably challenging” economic crisis and termed it as top priority for the US.

In the past the US-Pak relations mainly revolved around fight against terror and the two have been a decades old allies in war on terror but cooperation in other fields of life is not that much visible between the two countries in the past.

However, now the ties are expanding to new horizons with the US focusing on helping Pakistan to uplift its economy and also cooperate in environmental and climate change issues as also the joint work in IT and other fields as well.

At the same time, the US will continue to help Pak government in its fights against terrorists, who are active once again in the country.

According to media reports, Mr Chollet, will arrive in Islamabad next week and during his stay here, he will focus on talks regarding a wide range of matters.

Our country is facing a daunting economic crisis right now and in such challenging times, the US help is welcomed.

Earlier in September last year, the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had announced another $10 million for food security assistance, for Pakistan after the floods devastations in Pakistan.

The announcement was made during Secretary Blinken meeting with Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari in September last. 

It may be recalled here that th tour of BBZ to US in September last year was extremely successful as  during the series of meeting with the US high-up,  the duo also agreed on a series of development regarding resetting the Pak-US ties beyond the Afghan dilemma. There extensive conversation had covered variety of issues mostly relating to    bilateral ties and trade enhancement endeavors. Resetting and expansion of Pak-US beyond War on terror is what is needed right as it is the best way forward for both the states who are long-time allies in War on Terror.

There is no denying that Pakistan and the US have been long time allies in War on Terror in the region. But despite this fact, there have been many ups and downs in their ties but currently with the efforts of current coalition government, the relations have improved and the element of distrust is going to subside as both countries are looking to have cordial ties.

Credit goes to Pakistan’s youngest Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, who has been very vocally calling for a reset of these ties by searching the common grounds, which are in abundance as it is a fact that both the countries have much in common to work for together than the things on which they disagree with one another. There is no denying that the ridiculous statements and political rhetoric by the former PM Imran Khan, earlier last year, had caused strains in Pak-US ties but Imran Khan’s accusations do not reflect the feelings of the majority of Pakistanis, who want good ties with US based on mutual trust and cooperation in fields that are yet to be explored and which must be aimed at improving the lot of the two people.

Till now US-Pak ties  mostly revolved around the Afghan conflict which is going complexed with the passage of time, and is right now  but now that foreign troops have withdrawn from the Afghan soil, there is a need for direction for both the countries and the energies should be channelized in other fields of cooperation.

Secondly, till now the relations between Pakistan and US are mostly at government level concerning the peace overtures in the regional context and the people of the two countries are not the real beneficiaries of these ties.

We are living in new era marked by rapid economic development, the IT expansion and global integration of the people as the boundaries of the countries are no more the one to restrict masses from infiltrating into one another’s markets and societies due to emergence of the social media ,which is playing a big role in influencing on the opinion and mindset of the common man and hence the two people i.e. Pakistan and US also look to new venues between the two countries which can be  opened and expanded through improved ties at government level and at people level and these ties must be developed in a way so that the masses can have the best of them.

Pak-origin US citizens are making a good number of the human power in the US. Our doctors are a force to reckon with in the US states, and being a  nuclear power, it also has great strategic importance as in the region it is situated in a region where it has access to the countries like China, India, Afghanistan and Iran.

US also appeals to Pakistanis because the former has distinct position among the comity of nations as far as assimilating the people from all over the globe, particularly Muslim world including Pakistan.

Another distinct feature of the US is the religious tolerance due to which it is open to accepting people from all around the world. The number of Muslims living in the US, buying properties, enjoying business adventures, exercising their religion without any fear, getting higher education and settling there forever is a clear indication that US is safe destination for Muslims and Pakistanis.

 The problem with US and Pakistan governments has been that they focus on short-term goals and expectations but time has come the two side must look for long term partnerships in domains that are not explored yet.

However, one hopes that from now on they will focus on long-term plans regarding wide-range issues.

Published in The Daily National Courier, February, 11 2023

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