ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States Asad Majeed Khan hassaid that Islamabad is looking to enhance bilateral trade and investmentties with Washington under the new administration of President Joe Biden.
Talking to a private television channel on Friday, Asad Majeed said thatPakistan is not looking for assistance or aid but a strong trade andinvestment relationship.
He said that Islamabad and Washington are working together for peace inAfghanistan along with other nations. “The US also wants that the Afghansoil is not used against any other country,” he added.
“There is no question of ‘do more’ or ‘do less’ for us now, taking theright steps is the need of the hour,” the envoy said. He noted that the newUS administration would realise Pakistan’s efforts when it comes to knowabout ground realities.
Earlier on Tuesday, Biden’s nominated defence secretary General Lloyd JAustin termed Pakistan an important partner in peace and maintained thatthe US is looking to revive military ties with the country. “If confirmed,I will encourage a regional approach that garners support from neighbourslike Pakistan, while also deterring regional actors, from serving asspoilers to the Afghanistan peace process,” he said during his confirmationhearing.
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The former US general said he would focus on shared interests includingtraining future Pakistan military leaders through the use of InternationalMilitary Education and Training (IMET) funds.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi stated that Pakistan isready to engage with the new administration, considering it an “opportunityto build a long-term, broad-based and multidimensional relationship”.
“Such partnership would require an institutionalized and structuredengagement, based on mutual respect and cooperation,” the Foreign Ministersaid at a webinar on Pakistan’s priorities with the Biden administration,organized by Karachi Council on Foreign Relations earlier this week.
