Pakistan need sophisticated small arms and communication equipment to combat the growing terrorism, Ambassador Masood Khan has said, while calling for stronger US-Pakistan security and economic partnerships.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is crucial for regional security and opposing the rising tide of terrorism that also threatens the interests of the US and its allies,\u201d Khan, the Pakistani ambassador to the U.S., told the Annual Pakistan conference titled, \u2018Looking Back, Looking Forward: Assessing the US-Pakistan Relationship\u201d on Thursday.<\/p>\n
The well-attended conference was organized by the Wilson Center\u2019s South Asia Institute in partnership with the International Academy of Letters USA. Among those present were policy makers, scholars, intelligentsia, corporate leaders, members of think-tank community and Pak-American community leaders.<\/p>\n
\u201cPakistan and United States should continue to invest in the reset of their relationship, maintain strong security links, enhance intelligence cooperation, resume sales of advanced military platforms and sustainment of Pakistan\u2019s US-origin defence equipment,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The ambassador said that prospects of Pakistan-United States ties were bright, adding \u201cWe share values, our security and economic interests are interwoven, and it is the aspiration of our two peoples that strengthen our ties.\u201d<\/p>\n
Masood Khan said that they were developing a practical roadmap that would enable them to deepen their understanding and deliver security and prosperity for all. \u201cIn this era of renewed strategic competition, the US and Pakistan will build on existing partnerships and explore new horizons for establishing the parameters of mutuality of interests,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe should not base our engagement on incongruity of expectations. Our ties should be anchored in ground realities, even as we aim for stronger security and economic partnerships. Secondly, one or two issues should not hold the entire relationship hostage,\u201d the ambassador said.<\/p>\n
In this context, Ambassador Khan invited US investors and businesses to tap the country\u2019s potential.<\/p>\n
The ambassador pointed out that high-level defence talks, frequent meetings, military exercises, including \u2018Inspired Union-2024,\u2019 \u2018Falcon Talon\u2019 and \u2018Red Flag\u2019 that promoted defence cooperation between the two countries.<\/p>\n
On fighting the scourge of terrorism, he apprised the audience that Pakistan had launched Azm-i-Istehkam to oppose and dismantle terrorist networks.<\/p>\n
Outlining numerous areas of successful collaboration between Pakistan and the US, including energy, agriculture, climate change, healthcare, education, science, and technology, Ambassador Masood Khan expressed gratitude for the US assistance and ongoing partnerships while welcoming the launch of new initiatives in these fields.<\/p>\n
He invited the attention of the participants towards huge investment opportunities in IT, energy, agriculture and minerals sectors.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe SIFC-prioritized projects have opened up new opportunities to American technologies in agriculture, ICT and mining projects,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Pakistan need sophisticated small arms and communication equipment to combat the growing terrorism, Ambassador Masood Khan has said, while calling for stronger US-Pakistan security and economic partnerships. \u201cThis is crucial for regional security and opposing the rising tide of terrorism that also threatens the interests of the US and its allies,\u201d Khan, the Pakistani ambassador […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":415095,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-415082","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n