WASHINGTON: A senior US lawmaker has praised Pakistan’s growing diplomatic importance and said the country can play a bigger role as a neutral mediator in international conflicts, especially in the current Iran situation.
Congressman Tom Suozzi, Democratic co-chair of the Congressional Pakistan Caucus, made these remarks during a virtual briefing on Thursday evening. He described Pakistan as “a very, very important neutral party, with friends on both sides.”
Focus on expanding ties beyond security
The discussion went beyond the current Iran talks. Both Suozzi and Ambassador Sheikh talked about the need to strengthen US-Pakistan relations in areas like trade and investment, not just security.
Suozzi noted that Pakistan has the fifth-largest population in the world and may soon become the largest Muslim-majority nation. He said these demographics add to Pakistan’s global weight.
The US lawmaker also acknowledged challenges such as security risks, bureaucratic hurdles and political uncertainty that discourage American investors. However, he stressed that more trade and investment could bring stability to the relationship.
Furthermore, Ambassador Sheikh highlighted Pakistan’s young population, low production costs and rich mineral resources as areas where cooperation can grow. He reminded everyone that the United States remains Pakistan’s largest export market.
Moreover, the briefing also touched on visa delays affecting Pakistani Americans. Suozzi called the current pause in immigrant visa processing a “bad strategy” and said he is working with colleagues to resolve it.
However, on India-Pakistan relations, Suozzi observed that Indian and Pakistani communities live peacefully in the US and urged both countries to focus on shared interests. Ambassador Sheikh said Pakistan wants “peace with dignity” and remains open to dialogue.
The overall tone of the briefing showed that Washington is quietly reassessing Pakistan’s role at a time when the Middle East remains tense and traditional alliances are shifting.
