US, Pakistan reaffirm ‘economically entrenched strategic partnership’

ISLAMABAD: The United States and Pakistan reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral relations on Saturday, with both sides emphasizing the goal of developing an “economically entrenched strategic partnership.”

The reaffirmation came during a meeting between US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs S. Paul Kapur and Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States Rizwan Saeed Sheikh at the State Department in Washington.

Ambassador Sheikh described the discussion as cordial and forward-looking, noting that both sides explored ways to turn recent high-level political resolve into concrete cooperation. “We discussed the ways and means of translating the resolve — expressed at the leadership level — of developing Pakistan–US ties into an economically entrenched strategic partnership through sustained engagement in multiple domains of mutual interest,” Sheikh said on X.

Kapur, who assumed his new role on Oct. 22, said it was a “pleasure” to meet the Pakistani envoy and that they discussed “ways to advance the US-Pakistan relationship and make our countries more prosperous and secure.”

The meeting followed a visit by US Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker to Islamabad on Friday, where she met Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. Dar noted the “positive momentum” in Pakistan-US relations and discussed ongoing efforts by Washington and Arab-Islamic nations to promote peace and stability in Palestine and the wider Middle East.

In recent months, US officials have highlighted Pakistan’s role in promoting regional stability and its potential to contribute to economic and energy initiatives in South and Central Asia. The Trump administration has also encouraged American firms to explore investment opportunities in Pakistan’s infrastructure, minerals, and technology sectors.

Last month, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington seeks to expand its strategic relationship with Pakistan while maintaining close ties with India. In September, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met former President Donald Trump at the White House to discuss regional security, counterterrorism cooperation, and economic engagement. Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir also attended the meeting.

Trump has continued to emphasize his administration’s diplomatic efforts during the May military standoff between India and Pakistan, saying that swift US engagement “prevented a nuclear conflict” after both nations exchanged airstrikes.

In multiple public remarks, he has claimed that swift US diplomatic engagement “stopped a nuclear conflict” after the two neighbors exchanged airstrikes, asserting that Pakistan “shot down eight Indian planes” during the clashes.