Nuzaira Azam
WASHINGTON: Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, on Friday highlighted the steadily improving trajectory of Pakistan-U.S. relations during a press conference held at the Pakistani Embassy.
Referring to developments over the course of 2025, the Ambassador stated that Pakistan’s recent international achievements have been commendable and widely recognized. He described 2025 as a positive year for bilateral relations and expressed optimism about 2026, emphasizing future cooperation, engagement, and joint initiatives between the two populous nations.
Ambassador Sheikh noted that Pakistan and the United States share a long-standing partnership, which has experienced fluctuations over time but has never been discontinued. He attributed this continuity to Pakistan’s strategic importance in the region, adding that this has consistently resulted in positive outcomes for bilateral cooperation.
He further stressed that a country’s relationship with the United States should not be viewed as coming at the expense of its relations with any other country. In this context, he referred to remarks made by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a press conference in October, in which Rubio stated that the expansion of U.S. relations with Pakistan reflects a “mature and pragmatic foreign policy,” and he emphasized that such engagement does not undermine Washington’s long-standing relationship with India.
The Ambassador credited the current Pakistani government’s efforts for the positive momentum in Pakistan-U.S. relations. Addressing issues related to narcotics control and counterterrorism, he said Pakistan remains firmly committed to safeguarding peace and addressing related concerns. He emphasized that Pakistan has consistently played a frontline role, contributing beyond its obligations to both regional stability and international peace and security.
During the press conference, Ambassador Sheikh also responded to questions on several international issues, including developments related to Iran, Yemen, and the peace process in the Middle East.
