Pakistan, US reshaping partnerships in diverse fields: Masood Khan

Islamabad: Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States Masood Khan says Pakistan and US are reshaping their partnerships in critical areas of trade, investment, green energy, infrastructure, health and education.

He was addressing a two-day conference titled “Pakistan at 75”, in Harvard University at Boston.

He said that Pakistan emphasis on promoting people to people exchanges between the two countries.

He said after recalibrating our relations beyond Afghanistan and the wars we have fought together, we would continue to counter terrorism and foster regional stability.

The Ambassador said the core foreign policy principles of the country were: peace, regional equilibrium, strategic balance, shared prosperity, and connectivity and win-win partnerships.

Underscoring the highest importance that Pakistan attaches to its partnership with the United States, Masood Khan said the US has always been a preferred source for technical knowhow and military equipment and a top destination for Pak exports, which jumped from 7 to 9 billion dollars last year.  He said nearly one million Pakistani Americans are a strong bridge between our two nations.

He said the two countries are making efforts to build solid foundations for their economic collaboration that would not only serve the people of two countries but also contribute to regional stability and prosperity.

He said the outlook is bright, as the US has de-hyphenated its relationship with Pakistan from Afghanistan, India and even China.

On Sino-Pak relations, Masood Khan reiterated that the United States had not asked Pakistan to make a binary choice between Washington and Beijing.

Masood Khan said that Pakistan wanted peaceful relations with India and we realize that a cohesive, economically integrated South Asia will benefit its people and the entire globe.

Underscoring the need for resolution of all issues including the longstanding issue of Kashmir, Ambassador Khan said that let’s not try to sweep the issues that divide us under the carpet. This has not worked in the past; it will not work in future. He said peace would remain elusive if there is no dialogue for confidence building, effective communication and responsible stewardship,” he said.

The Ambassador said that Pakistan has a persona beyond South Asia – its extended neighbourhood - East Asia, including North and South Asia, Central Asia, West Asia, the Middle East and Africa.