ISLAMABAD: Pakistan enjoys a special relationship with the US that encompasses cooperation in trade, investment, security, counterterrorism, energy and people-to-people exchanges, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Thursday.
Pakistan has managed to forge close ties with the US under Donald Trump’s second term in office as president. Both countries moved closer to each other after years of strained ties when the US brokered a ceasefire between India and Pakistan in May last year. Pakistan has been actively mediating between the US and Iran since their conflict began in February, further strengthening its ties with the US.
Speaking at an event at the US Embassy in Islamabad to mark 250 years of the US’ independence, Sharif praised Trump as “a man of peace” for brokering the ceasefire between India and Pakistan last year. He noted that both Pakistan and the US enjoyed cooperation in several sectors.
“Ours is a true and special relationship spanning over nearly eight decades and encompassing cooperation not only in security and counterterrorism, but equally so in trade, investment, agriculture, science, education, health, energy, and people-to-people exchanges,” Sharif said on Thursday.
He noted that Pakistan is “proudly but humbly” playing the sincere role of a mediator between the US and Iran, appreciating Pakistan’s military chief Field Marshal Asim Munir for his efforts to broker peace in the region.
“As I speak, these efforts continue with the support of Iran and the United States, and let’s hope and pray to Allah Almighty that we achieve long-lasting peace as early as possible,” he said.
Speaking earlier, US Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker praised Islamabad’s role in facilitating peace talks between Washington and Tehran in April.
Baker noted that Trump’s approach to Pakistan in his second term in office has been “direct, personal and consequential.”
“Over the past two years, under the bold and results-oriented leadership of President Trump and Prime Minister Sharif, the United States and Pakistan have embraced one another as true strategic partners,” she said.
“Not merely transactional, but a partnership grounded in mutual respect, aligned interests, and a shared vision for security and prosperity.”
Baker described Pakistan’s move to host the highest-level talks between the US and Iran since 1979 in April as its “finest hour of modern history.”
“We were there for every moment and the professionalism and quiet determination of our Pakistani partners during those days was nothing short of extraordinary,” she said.
