US reaffirms support for Pakistan’s financial and security challenges as envoy meets PM Sharif
Celina Ali
Islamabad: The United States reiterated its continued commitment to help Pakistan with its financial and regional security challenges on Friday, as the top American diplomat in the country held a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and discussed a wide range of bilateral issues.
The US-Pakistan relations have had its ups and downs in recent years, though both countries have shown interest in maintaining a partnership that addresses mutual concerns such as counterterrorism, economic development and peace in the region.
The country’s leading opposition party of former Prime Minister Imran Khan accused the administration in Washington of undue involvement in the country’s political affairs, accusing American officials of bringing down its government in a no-trust vote in April 2022.
President Joe Biden’s administration has repeatedly denied the allegation and has offered to partner with Pakistan to deal with the cross-border attacks from Afghanistan. It is also believed to have helped the South Asian state in its negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
“US Ambassador Donald Blome met today with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to discuss a broad range of bilateral issues, including partnering with the Government of Pakistan on regional security, US support for continued economic reforms with and through the IMF, trade and investment, education, climate change, and private sector-led economic growth,” Acting US Mission Spokesperson Thomas Montgomery said in a statement. “Ambassador Blome expressed US support for Pakistan’s democracy and the key role of an independent press.”
“The Ambassador and Prime Minister also discussed how both countries can work together to accelerate projects addressing climate change under the US-Pakistan Green Alliance framework,” he added.
Last year in September, the US ambassador also visited Gwadar to underscore American commitment to the people of Balochistan and highlight measures that could be taken to jointly meet Pakistan’s climate, energy and water needs.
