US Ambassador To Improve Ties

ISLAMABAD: US Ambassador to Pakistan Donald Blome said on Monday that Washington intends to go on with a robust two-way dialogue with Pakistan’s government, political parties, and civil society in order to move past the regime change problem.

Arriving late last month, Ambassador Blome has assumed command of U.S. interests in Pakistan as the country faces its own unique problems and prospects.

When former Prime Minister Imran Khan claimed that the United States was behind his ouster, the anti-American emotions in Pakistan were stoked. Imran launched a widespread campaign demanding for the “independence from foreign forces” of Pakistanis. When it comes to achieving Washington’s foreign policy aims in Pakistan, this heightened anti-American feeling has become the biggest obstacle.

Then, additional possibilities have opened up as well.

Following the last year’s withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan at the end of a two-decade long war, Ambassador Blome assumed charge of his assignment as the first full-time American envoy to Islamabad in almost four years, when Afghanistan appears to no longer be a dominant issue in bilateral relations.

To be a ‘defining characteristic,’ counterterrorism cooperation will be maintained

On the issue of Mr. Khan claiming the US was trying to overthrow the government, Ambassador Blome said that Washington was “quite explicit” about that.

“The greatest thing we can do moving ahead is to continue taking part in Pakistani society at all levels, as we have for the previous 75 years!” In addition, he added, he intends to reach out to political and corporate leaders, as well as civil society and the youth.

“I will listen to and understand” what’s going on in the country, he added, and “transfer that knowledge” to Washington, while also sharing US “ideas and positions” with audiences in the country in the most clear and transparent manner possible.

Pakistan’s new leadership has always been receptive to reviving relations with the United States, despite local political polarisation.

An opportunity presented itself, and Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari accepted Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s offer to attend a meeting on food security at the United Nations.

They also met on the margins of the New York conference on May 18, which was the first high-level interaction between Mr Bhutto-Zardari and Mr Blinken for months.

Following up on the agenda established by the two foreign ministers, Ambassador Blome said that “several follow-ups” were in the works.

According to him, “I expect we will see a range of US visitors visiting Pakistan in the next months to further build on it,” he added.

An apparent start towards resuming the long-suspended formal bilateral discussion will see the US and Pakistan begin the US-Pakistan Health Dialogue in Washington, D.C., to expand their collaboration on health concerns.

For Pakistan, the United States has sent over 61 million Covid vaccination shots as well as $69 million of financial aid and another $9 million of non-financial assistance.

“We can build on this effort not just in aid but also by expanding private sector collaborations in the health space,” the ambassador said.

“I am dedicated to fostering further growth of our bilateral trade and investment,” Ambassador Blome remarked during the foreign ministers’ meeting.

He also mentioned health, climate change, and education as areas in which collaboration may be enhanced.

Even yet; it was clear from our conversation that counterterrorism cooperation would be a constant component of this relationship for some time.

Ambassador Blome said the United States is looking for “a solid collaboration with Pakistan on counterterrorism” and expects “continued and indiscriminate action against all extremist and terrorist organisations” from Islamabad.

After being pressed on whether or if conversations for drone basing access closer to Afghanistan were part of the US aim of enhancing counterterrorism cooperation with Pakistan, the ambassador chose to avoid responding directly.

“Whether in Afghanistan or elsewhere, the United States is firmly committed to avoiding the reemergence of terrorist threats. Combating terrorism requires a global approach. Our engagement with partners, allies and key states around the world on how to best address terrorism will continue,” he said in reference to President Joe Biden’s statement about developing capabilities and deployment of assets in the region in order to prevent the re-emergence of terrorists from the over-horizon.

It was also stated that US officials would work with Pakistan to “press the Taliban into preventing terrorist groups from using Afghanistan as a base for external operations and into meeting the international community’s expectation, including pressing the Taliban to adhere to their counterterrorism commitments, form an inclusive government and protect the rights of women,” with regards to that country.

Blome applauded Pakistan’s “ongoing efforts in fighting the funding of terrorists and prioritising anti-money laundering measures,” in Pakistan.

His comments came ahead of the FAFTA plenary conference in Berlin, which begins on June 14th. Pakistan has been on a worldwide watchdog’s “grey list” since June 2018, and the watchdog is reviewing its progress. Pakistan is likely to be removed from the list.