Sardar Masood Khan, former President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan\u2019s former Ambassador to the United States, China, and the United Nations, described Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir\u2019s recent meeting with US President Donald Trump as a new \u201cstrategic moment\u201d in the trajectory of Pakistan\u2013U.S relations.<\/p>\n
In a press statement on Friday, Ambassador Khan highlighted that while optics of the meeting were encouraging, the substance lay in the new frameworks of cooperation on peace, security, and economic transformation.<\/p>\n
He underlined that Pakistan has been assigned a central role in regional peace efforts, particularly in the Middle East. \u201cPakistan and Saudi Arabia\u2019s unity has been pivotal in persuading President Trump and his team to avoid escalation in Gaza and to work instead toward a sustainable solution for Palestine. The roadmap presented by US Special Representative Steve Witkoff is evidence that our diplomacy is being recognized,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
On bilateral matters, Ambassador Khan noted that the meeting produced significant economic breakthroughs. The US reduced tariffs on Pakistani exports to the lowest in the region, unlocking major opportunities in Pakistan\u2019s largest trading market. Agreements were advanced on critical minerals, renewable energy, cryptocurrency, and oil exploration.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is good news for Pakistan\u2019s economy. The challenge is how we, as a nation, can translate these opportunities into tangible growth and jobs,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Ambassador Khan emphasized the revival of intelligence-to-intelligence cooperation, recalling Pakistan\u2019s past collaboration with US agencies during the fight against terrorism. He said the renewed focus will address threats emanating from Afghanistan, Daesh, and the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), while also spotlighting India\u2019s extensive terror networks in the region.<\/p>\n
\u201cIndia has established operational and financial infrastructures targeting Pakistan. This reality must be shared with the United States, and both countries have now agreed to dismantle these threats together,\u201d he asserted.<\/p>\n
Reflecting on broader geopolitical dynamics, Masood Khan said Pakistan\u2019s role is gaining recognition in Washington as independent and indispensable. \u201cSenior US officials have clarified that Pakistan is not to be viewed through the prism of China or India.<\/p>\n
Ours is a stand-alone relationship, with strategic weight in South Asia, Central Asia, and Western Asia. India, by contrast, has been increasingly isolated\u2014unable to deliver on expectations as a counterweight to China,\u201d he observed.<\/p>\n
He welcomed recent US investments in critical minerals\u2014antimony, lithium, nickel, copper, and rare earths\u2014valued at trillions of dollars, describing them as vital for global industries from smartphones, electric vehicles to defence technology and alternate energy.<\/p>\n
\u201cPakistan holds trillions of dollars in untapped reserves. This partnership anchors our relations in a solid economic foundation,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n
In this context, he noted a $50 million Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been signed between United States Strategic metals and Frontier Work Organization (FWO), on extraction of critical minerals in Pakistan.<\/p>\n
Ambassador Khan further called for people-to-people linkages, academic exchanges, and technology partnerships to complement security and economic ties. He emphasized that unlike in the past, when Pakistan was drawn into foreign wars, the current agenda is focused on trade, technology, and peace.<\/p>\n
He commended leadership of the two countries for positioning the country as a bridge between regions and powers. \u201cPakistan is no longer a peripheral player. It is at the heart of regional diplomacy, economic transformation, and global security cooperation. By leveraging this momentum with clarity and consistency, Pakistan can redefine its future,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Sardar Masood Khan, former President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan\u2019s former Ambassador to the United States, China, and the United Nations, described Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir\u2019s recent meeting with US President Donald Trump as a new \u201cstrategic moment\u201d in the trajectory of Pakistan\u2013U.S relations. In a press statement […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":421647,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-505148","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-national"},"yoast_head":"\n