Daily Times

The 78th Pakistan Day was celebrated at the Pakistan Embassy in Washington DC on Friday, wherein South and Central Asia senior Director Curtis appeared as the guest of honour.

Speaking on the occasion, Curtis said, “We look forward to growing the US-Pakistan relationship.

Despite highlighting some challenges faced by the relationship, she said that the two countries have had a lot to gain with future collaboration, especially in the shared commitment to defeat terrorism.

According to several Pakistani officials at the event, Curtis’s appearance indicated an upward trajectory in the US- Pakistan relationship.

Last week US Vice President Mike Pence and Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi held a meeting in Washington DC, where mutual matters, including terrorism and financial assistance were reported to have been discussed.

In his welcome address, US Ambassador Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry echoed Curtis’s message that both countries needed to continue to collaborate to achieve their common goal: peace and stability in the region. However, he said that US-Pakistan relationship should not be contingent on aid.

“Pakistan and US share a multi-faceted relation, it cannot be weighed in dollars,” he said. Speaking about peace in the region, he said Pakistan also wanted peace in the region. Although, he explained, “It is essential for all stakeholders in Afghanistan to sit together and come up with a solution.”

Speaking to American journalists who recently travelled to Pakistan at the behest of the Pakistan government, Chaudhry disagreed with their suggestions that the bilateral relationship was “adrift”. He said that US-Pak relationship was a high priority in the foreign policy spectrum of Pakistan. Chaudhry reminded them of the achievements of the bilateral relationship in previous years

“I am very optimistic, we need to get this relationship back on track,” he said, adding: ”

We have a very resilient relationship.”

US government officials, diplomatic corps of Washington DC and Pakistani diaspora were amongst the guests in attendance. Earlier in the day, a flag- hoisting ceremony was also arranged on the occasion.

Published in Daily Times, March 26^th 2018.