• Shehbaz says Islamabad values its relationship with Washington
• Welcomes initiatives in energy, climate change sectors

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday responded to a letter penned by US President Joe Biden, seeking enduring ties with Pakistan, by saying that Islamabad was willing to engage with Washington for the common goals of regional and global peace.

The letter from the US president came at a time when a newly elec­ted government — led by Shehbaz Sharif — is grappling with economic crisis as well as security challenges on its western border, particularly the cross-border attacks claimed by the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

The letter shared with the media by the PM’s Office on Sunday said that Pakistan was willing to work with the US towards “a common goal of global peace and security and development and prosperity of the region”.

PM Shehbaz, who became premier after Feb 8 elections with the help of his allies, termed the relationship with the US of key importance as he welcomed the collaborations with the US administration in several fields, including the energy sector.

The PM said both countries had been working together on various significant initiatives in energy, climate change, agriculture, health and education sectors, welcoming the cooperation in the energy sector and the Green Alliance Framework.

In a recent State Department briefing, spokesperson Matthew Miller had reassured the global community that the US would not allow Afghanistan to re-emerge as a base for terrorism.

“The United States remains vigilant against the evolving threat posed by terrorist groups, including IS-K, and has maintained an unwavering focus on terrorism since President Joe Biden took office three years ago,” Miller said.

The US, he said, was “working both unilaterally and with its partners to successfully disrupt threats across the globe and degrade IS”.

The relationship between Pakistan and the US faced a setback after former PM Imran Khan blamed the US for his ouster from power using a diplomatic cable — cipher — to corroborate his claim. During his term in office, Mr Khan never received any correspondence from the White House.

After Imran Khan’s ouster in a no-trust move, Shehbaz Sharif became the premier in April 2022 but he was not congratulated by Mr Biden upon his election either.

Nonetheless, the letter by Mr Biden on Friday was the first communication between the new government — whose credibility was questioned by a US diplomat during a congressional committee hearing citing irregularities in Feb 8 polls — and the Biden-led US administration.

In the letter sent to the PM on Friday, President Biden assured Islamabad that the US would continue to stand by Pakistan amid the most pressing global and regional challenges.

He termed the enduring partnership between the two nations critical to “ensuring the security of our people and people around the world”.

In the letter, the US president recalled the realms in which Washington is helping Pakistan, such as health security, economic growth, and access to education for all.

The message from the US president arrived over a week after a US diplomat questioned the credibility of the general elections ahead of his appearance at a Congressional panel.

Assistant Secretary of State Donald Lu had submitted a written statement expressing Washington’s concerns about irregularities in the Feb 8 elections while also emphasising the need to stay engaged with Pakistan to help it navigate through the crises it was facing.

Published in Dawn, April 1st, 2024