ISLAMABAD: The new United States ambassador to Pakistan, Donald Blome, on Monday signalled Washing\u00adton\u2019s intention to move on from the regime change controversy by engaging in a robust two-way communication with the country\u2019s government, political parties and civil society.<\/p>\n
Ambassador Blome, who arrived in Pakistan late last month, has taken over the charge of the US mission at a time of unique challenges and opportunities.<\/p>\n
Though anti-American sentiments run deep in Pakistani society, the feelings got inflamed after former prime minister Imran Khan alleged that he was ousted through a US conspiracy for regime change and ran a mass campaign calling for ‘freedom’ from ‘slaves of foreign powers’. This heightened anti-American sentiment has, therefore, become the foremost challenge for Washington in executing its foreign policy goals in Pakistan.<\/p>\n
But then, newer opportunities have also emerged. Ambassador Blome \u2014 the first full-time American envoy in Islamabad after a gap of almost four years \u2014 assumed the charge of his assignment when Afghanistan is apparently no more a dominant issue in the bilateral ties following last year\u2019s withdrawal of US forces from there at the end of 20-year-long war \u2014 the longest in American history.<\/p>\n
Ambassador Blome, in an interview with Dawn, reiterated the rejection of Mr Khan\u2019s ‘regime change’ allegation and said Washington was \u201cvery clear\u201d about that.<\/p>\n
\u201cHowever, I think the best thing we can do going forward is to keep engaging across all levels of Pakistani society, as we have for the past 75 years!\u201d he said, adding the engagement wouldn\u2019t be limited just with the government, but will extend to political leaders, the business community, civil society, and the youth.<\/p>\n
In this two-way communication, he said, he will \u201clisten to and understand\u201d what\u2019s happening here and \u201cconvey that understanding\u201d to Washington and at the same time share US \u201cviews and positions as clearly and as transparently as possible\u201d with audiences here.<\/p>\n
Beyond polarisation in the domestic politics on US ties, the new government in Islamabad has always been open to revitalising bilateral relations. The first opportunity that came in its way in the shape of Secretary of State Antony Blinken\u2019s invitation for Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari for attending a food security conference at the United Nations was clinched.<\/p>\n
Mr Bhutto-Zardari and Mr Blinken also met on the sidelines of the conference in New York on May 18, which was the first highest level face-to-face contact between the two sides in months.<\/p>\n
Ambassador Blome disclosed that \u201ca number of follow-ups\u201d were being planned on the basis of the agenda set by the two foreign ministers at their meeting.<\/p>\n
\u201cI will do some of that here, and I expect we will see a variety of US visitors to Pakistan in the coming months to build on it further,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
In what appears to be a step towards the resumption of structured bilateral dialogue that has been suspended for long, the two sides are set to launch the US-Pakistan Health Dialogue in Washington for deepening their cooperation on health issues.<\/p>\n
The ambassador recalled the \u201cpartnership\u201d between the two countries against the global Covid-19 pandemic as a good example of cooperation on health.<\/p>\n
US had donated more than 61 million Covid vaccine doses, $69m in financial support, and an additional $9m in in-kind assistance to support Pakistan\u2019s fight against the pandemic.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe can build on this work not just in assistance but through growing private sector partnerships in the health field,\u201d the envoy added.<\/p>\n
Much like the emphasis on investment and trade during the foreign ministers\u2019 meeting, Ambassador Blome too said that he was \u201ccommitted to promoting further development of our bilateral trade and investment\u201d.<\/p>\n
He further identified health, climate, and education as other areas where cooperation could be expanded.<\/p>\n
But, at the same time, it was too obvious from the discussion with him that counterterrorism cooperation will remain a defining feature of this relationship for some time to come.<\/p>\n
Ambassador Blome said US was seeking \u201ca strong partnership with Pakistan on counterterrorism\u201d and expects from Islamabad \u201csustained\u201d and indiscriminate action against all militant and terrorist groups.<\/p>\n
The ambassador was specifically asked to clarify if US pursuit for strengthening counterterrorism cooperation with Pakistan included negotiations over drone basing access closer to Afghanistan, but he avoided a direct reply.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe United States is committed to preventing the reemergence of terrorist threats, in Afghanistan or anywhere else. Fighting terrorism is a global effort. We will continue to engage partners, allies, and key states around the world on how best to address terrorism,\u201d he said while referring to President Joe Biden\u2019s statement in which he had talked about developing capabilities and deploying assets in the region to prevent the re-emergence of terrorists from over the horizon.<\/p>\n
On Afghanistan, the envoy said, US would work with Pakistan to \u201cpress the Taliban to prevent terrorist groups from using Afghanistan as a base for external operations and to meet the international community\u2019s expectations \u2014 including pressing the Taliban to adhere to their counterterrorism commitments, form an inclusive government, and protect the rights of women and girls\u201d.<\/p>\n
Ambassador Blome welcomed Pakistan\u2019s \u201congoing efforts in countering the financing of terrorism and prioritising anti-money laundering measures\u201d.<\/p>\n
His remarks come ahead of Financial Action Task Force\u2019s plenary meeting in Berlin from June 14. The global illicit financing watchdog will review the progress made by Pakistan, which has been on its \u2018grey list\u2019 since June 2018.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ISLAMABAD: The new United States ambassador to Pakistan, Donald Blome, on Monday signalled Washing\u00adton\u2019s intention to move on from the regime change controversy by engaging in a robust two-way communication with the country\u2019s government, political parties and civil society. Ambassador Blome, who arrived in Pakistan late last month, has taken over the charge of the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":266327,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[6690,8555,444],"class_list":{"0":"post-266323","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-national","8":"tag-ambassador","9":"tag-rebuild","10":"tag-us"},"yoast_head":"\n