WASHINGTON: Pakistan Ambassador to the United States Rizwan Saeed Sheikh has said that Islamabad’s importance to the US is not temporary; it is rooted in history.
Speaking at the launch of Pakistan TV, the ambassador shared his thoughts on the Pakistan-US relationship and its significance in the context of shifting global politics.
In an exclusive interview with Pakistan TV, he said that Pakistan, with over 250 million people, has a large portion of its population under 23. Therefore, the importance of such a vast and strategically vital country can only be long-lasting and increasing.
Replying to a question, the ambassador said, “Over the past 78 years, they have seen many twists and turns, but it's the strategic location and geopolitical significance of Pakistan that continues to be a constant in bilateral ties with the United States. This new phase is certainly as promising as it has ever been.”
Regarding the utilization of the newly agreed-upon agreement to explore oil and rare earth minerals in Pakistan, he said that the recently signed Memorandum of Understanding with the US was perhaps only the beginning.
“We believe more American companies will be interested in joining us in this effort to unlock the wealth beneath the surface and use it as an international public good, not only for the benefit of our two countries but also for the broader good of humanity.”
He said that Pakistan does not plan to limit itself to just one sector, as it aims to expand into industries like IT.
“Pakistan's cost-effectiveness in the IT sector is 70% lower than in the United States and 20% to 30% more cost-effective than any of our competitors, whether it's India, Egypt, or the Philippines,” he added.
Talking about US-India relations, he said that Pakistan does not believe in viewing our relations with the U.S. through the lens of any other country.
“Our relations with the United States should not be contingent on or compared to any other country, whether in the region or anywhere in the world. We are a mega country. The relationship between two mega countries is certainly futuristic and stands on its own.”
Commenting on the upcoming UNGA meeting, he said that the delegation will be led by the prime minister. As an active member of the UN, Pakistan has always used its geostrategic and geoeconomic position to “punch above our weight in multilateral relations,” he said, adding that Pakistan’s presence at the UN forum this time would also be strong.
