“WASHINGTON – During a conference on the future of Pakistan-US relations at the Wilson Centre think tank, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, Masood Khan, urged the US to reinstate foreign military financing and sales to Islamabad. Khan emphasized the need for the US to renew its commitment to maintaining strategic stability in South Asia, cautioning against the dangers of regional imbalance.
The ambassador clarified that Pakistan had consulted with the US before finalizing a deal to import crude oil from Russia, ensuring no misunderstandings between the two nations on this matter. Khan expressed Pakistan’s desire to build and strengthen its relationship with the US, stressing that its ties with China should not negatively impact the US. He encouraged both countries to choose cooperation and competition over confrontation.
Khan confirmed the attendance of Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Conference in early May.
Elizabeth Horst, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, supported Khan’s views, labeling the Pakistan-US relationship as highly significant for both nations, South Asia, and the world. Horst stated that the US shared Pakistan’s goal of preventing Afghanistan from becoming a base for terrorism, and the two countries were exploring collaboration on counterterrorism, counter-narcotics, and anti-human trafficking efforts.”
