Strengthening Bonds: Pakistan and the U.S. Forge New Paths Under Trump Administration

​Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Washington, announced that the relations between Islamabad and the United States have improved during Donald Trump’s administration, and the current U.S. government, contrary to traditional views, does not evaluate Pakistan solely through the lens of the Afghanistan dossier or competition with India. He emphasized that Washington now regards Islamabad as a country with an independent identity, but these relations still require more substance in practical areas…

​Relations Strengthened During Trump Era

​Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, analyzed the current state of relations between Islamabad and Washington at a symposium initiated by Pakistani students at Georgetown University. He emphasized that the relations between the two countries have reached a better and strengthened level during Donald Trump’s administration. ​The Pakistani ambassador described the current situation using Trump’s specific rhetoric: for some time, our relations with the U.S. have not seemed this good. ​However, he clarified that despite this improvement, these relations still need more substance, and there should be significant capacities in specific and practical areas to deepen and expand the relations.

​Change in Traditional U.S. Perspective

​Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, continuing his remarks, pointed out his country’s status and capacities, stating that Pakistan is a large country with the fifth largest population in the world and extensive capabilities. ​He emphasized that the current U.S. government, contrary to the traditional view, does not evaluate Pakistan solely through the lens of the Afghanistan dossier or competition with India, but rather sees Islamabad: ​as a country with an independent identity and a regional and global role.

​Need for Engagement of Diaspora Elites

​In another part of his speech, the Pakistani ambassador stressed the necessity of leveraging the positive environment that has been created to strengthen bilateral relations. He emphasized the role of university elites and the Pakistani diaspora community in the U.S. and stated that they should work to enhance Pakistan’s image and create new economic, scientific, and diplomatic ties between the two countries. ​According to him, although relations between Islamabad and Washington have been accompanied by tensions and ups and downs in recent years, a fresh opportunity has now arisen to redefine these relations based on mutual interests and broader cooperation.