Pakistan praises US for felicitating Shehbaz's election as PM

Islamabad and Washington have a long-standing, broad-based and mutually-beneficial relationship, says FO spokesperson

Pakistan on Thursday thanked the United States for the message of felicitations on the election of Shehbaz Sharif as prime minister.

On Wednesday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken congratulated Shehbaz Sharif on his PM election win. "The United States views a strong, prosperous, and democratic Pakistan as essential for the interests of both of our countries," Blinken added.

Soon after his election as prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif reiterated the need for cooperation with the United States.

Read more: US congratulates PM Shehbaz on election

“The new government wishes to constructively and positively engage with the US to promote shared goals of peace, security and development in the region,” the Prime Minister’s Office had said in response to a White House statement on Shehbaz Sharif taking over as the new prime minister.

"We thank the United States for the message of felicitations on the election of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif," the Foreign Office said in a statement on Thursday.

It said that the Pakistan and the US have had a long-standing, broad-based and mutually-beneficial relationship, that we look forward to further deepen and solidify. "This is important for peace and development in the region and beyond," it added.

Also read: US hopeful of continuing healthy ties with Pakistan's armed forces

Ties between Islamabad and Washington touched a new low after former prime minister Imran Khan accused the US of conspiring to dislodge his government.

Imran based his allegation on a diplomatic cable in which it was reportedly said that a US State Department official had warned of consequences for bilateral ties if the no-confidence motion failed.