From the time of its establishment, Pakistan had ignored the socialist bloc and associated its interests with the United Statses, but the historical fact is that these ties need to be further improved at public level.

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. After the elections of February 8, the newly elected government came to power in Pakistan and Mian Shahbaz Sharif became the Prime Minister. After about a month and a half, the letter sent to him by President Joe Biden did not congratulate the new Prime Minister but the contents were certainly encouraging which was welcomed by Pakistan.  In his letter, President Biden assured that the United States will stand with Pakistan to tackle global and regional security challenges. At the same time, he also pointed out that America is helping Pakistan in health, economy, education and security matters.  This indicates that the US is ready to make progress in bilateral relations with Pakistan. In response, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has also written a letter to the US President, in which it has been said that Pakistan attaches key importance to relations with the US and wants to work together for global peace and security and the development and prosperity of the region.  Both the countries are taking important steps for cooperation in the fields of energy, climate change, agriculture, health and education which will be happy.  He also wrote that Pakistan is willing to work with the United States to achieve the common goals of global peace and security and development and prosperity of the region.  He especially welcomed the cooperation in energy sector and Green Alliance in both countries. If the expectations expressed by the Prime Minister in the reply letter to the American President are followed in good faith by the parties, then  it  will be better in the interest of both the countries.  As a matter of  the Pak-US must expand to benefit two people Last year, the U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken while speaking to then Pakistani counterpart Bilawal Bhutto on the phone to reaffirm the "constructive partnership" between the U.S. and Pakistan, according to a U.S. spokesman, and underscored that Pakistan's economic recovery is the first priority.

It is also worth-mentioning here that the influence that the United States used in negotiating a new agreement for Pakistan to get a loan from  the IMF in recent years was appreciated by the Pakistani nation.  Blinken also expressed America's good wishes for Pakistan and discussed America's support for economic recovery and common regional concerns including Afghanistan.  Blinken alsosaid that the US will continue to engage with Pakistan through technological and developmental initiatives and strong trade and investment-based ties. He also discussed the common interests of Pakistan and the United States in the Russia-Ukraine war and a peaceful Afghanistan.  Regarding the strategic location in the region, Pakistan is of great importance to the US and it has also taken advantage of its relations with it for its own interests, while especially with regard to India and Afghanistan, Pakistan is facing loss of life, financial and geographical losses. There is still time for the United States to take a clear action plan to give the right of self-determination to the Kashmiri people from India by solving the injustices of the past and to practically solve the reservations of Pakistan in the case of Afghanistan.  In this situation, the relationship between the two countries can take a meaningful, trusting and positive direction. As a matter of fact, during the previous PDM Government, the then FM Bilawal made endeavors to reset Pak-US ties. It is welcome to note that Bilawal Bhutto Zardari proceeded well with his endeavors in resetting the Pak-US ties through his sheer statesmanship and sagacious approach as Pakistan's youngest Foreign Minister and his efforts will bear fruits in the long run. The most significant aspect of his efforts during the PDM government was his focus on expanding cooperation in various sectors other than the one-point Afghan war imbroglio.

Due to his efforts, the two long time allies had resolved to forward their mutual commitment to expand their engagement in trade, energy, environment, health and peace at times when the two states are marking 75 years of their relationship.  Analysts agree that there is a greater need to  enhance the people-to-people contacts, business-to-business links and the congressional engagements between the two states as this is the best way to bring the two people together and expanding the ties in accordance with the requirement of the new age marked by the IT revolution. One would agree with foreign relations experts that people and businessmen should also be made integral part of the Pak-US expanding ties as they are the real stakeholders. On the other hand, there is also a need for regular exchange of high level visits at government level between the two allies to help explore new venues and take the relationship to new horizons beyond mere war on terror. Last year, the US offered Pakistan to jointly deal with the terror threat and increasing attacks by proscribed TTP militants in the country. However, there is still a long way to achieve the desired results as it will take a lot of efforts to expand the ties   in the field of economics, bilateral trade and commerce at times when the world is faced with the dilemma of inflation, food shortage, climate change effects, environmental issues, and high energy prices etc. In this backdrop, one is really optimistic about the expansion of ties as there exist a lot of common grounds between the two states as the two people really want to come close with each other as they have shared interest in many fields and a lot of common goals to work for together. In fact the grounds on which they agree are far more in number than the things on which they disagree. 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. 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.

Published in The Daily National Courier, April, 03 2024

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