US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari are all set to meet in Washington today to normalize the troubled relations between the two states.
According to media reports, the meeting is scheduled to help stabilize bilateral relations that have been strained since the United States’ withdrawal from Afghanistan.
As per official resources, there are concerns that the US might not be willing to commit to a long-term relationship, instead concentrating on limited security-related issues and counter-terrorism.
Meanwhile, Bilawal also met separately with State Department Special Representative for Commercial and Business Affairs, Dilawar Syed, reflecting the two countries’ mutual desire to strengthen trade ties. Officially, both offices have described the meeting as meant to “highlight flood relief efforts in Pakistan and commemorate 75 years of bilateral relations”.
“Met Dilawar Syed emphasized US private sector’s role in rebuilding infrastructure post-floods. Highlighted Pakistan’s potential & sought greater US investment & Green Energy Plan. Underscored strengthening IT & Edu linkages. Focused on the expansion of trade ties,” Bilawal stated in a tweet.
At an earlier briefing, State Department’s counselor Derek Chollet said the Biden management did not want Islamabad to be forced to choose between Beijing and Washington, rather it wants countries “to be able to have a choice”.
Earlier, Bilawal and his counterpart met informally at the UN General Assembly session, where Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif joined them too.
As cited by the report, this will be the second formal meeting between Bilawal and Blinken as both officials first met in May 2022, on the sidelines of the food security summit, after Bilawal was appointed as foreign minister in April.
Ever since April, after the change of government, there have been multiple exchanges between the two countries. Both parties have been seen to make visible efforts to repair the relationship, as per the report.
Biden has taken Pakistan’s name in his speech at UNGA. In addition to it, the Biden government has also passed a $450 million sale of F-16 aircraft to Pakistan, which is regarded as significant.
Relations between the two states remained tense during the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) administration, particularly after Joe Biden became US President.
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