On Monday in Washington, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will meet with Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari as part of a renewed effort on both sides to mend their strained ties following the US withdrawal from Afghanistan.
As they first met in New York in May on the sidelines of the food security summit, this will be their second official meeting in four months. However, the most recent encounter was a part of Bilawal’s official trip to Washington after he was appointed foreign minister in April.
While the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) was in session, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif briefly joined Bilawal and Blinken for some informal conversation.
According to official sources, Bilawal’s visit was intended to explore methods to forge a lasting alliance following America’s departure from Afghanistan.
There have been worries that the US may not want a long-term alliance and would rather concentrate on specific security and counterterrorism issues.
Relations between the two nations remained strained under the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) administration, especially when Joe Biden became US President. In what was perceived as a snub to the former cricket star for making contentious statements following the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan, he never paid a courtesy call to Imran Khan, who was the country’s prime minister at the time.
However, there have been apparent attempts from both parties to repair the relationship after the change in government.
There have been a number of exchanges between the two nations during the past few months. At the reception that President Biden threw in New York for the foreign leaders in attendance at the UNGA session, Prime Minister Shehbaz even had a brief conversation with him.
A $450 million sale of F-16 equipment to Pakistan was authorised by the Biden administration, which is regarded as a significant development.
Observers, however, feel that Pakistan does not play a significant role in the current shifting geopolitical realities and that Pakistan would continue to be a principled friend of the US in this region despite some good movement.
However, it’s thought that the US might not be wholly indifferent to Pakistan. This is the reason why Biden specifically brought up Pakistan in his speech at the UNGA session.
In the wake of the disastrous floods, he asked for support from the world community for Pakistan.
By easing strict requirements, Pakistan will be able to request debt relief from wealthy nations and an advance payment of $3 billion from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) with the help and support of the US.
According to sources, Bilawal would discuss all of these problems at his meeting with US government representatives, including the secretary of state.
By easing strict requirements, Pakistan will be able to request debt relief from wealthy nations and an advance payment of $3 billion from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) with the help and support of the US.
According to sources, Bilawal would discuss all of these problems at his meeting with US government representatives, including the secretary of state.
