Relations with US became 'far more comprehensive' since April: Bilawal

We have had a consistent back and forth of engagement with the US and at various levels, says FM

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Wednesday said Islamabad, since he took office in April earlier this year, has had "a consistent back and forth of engagement with the United States (US)" and the itinerary of these engagements has been "far more comprehensive" than in the past.

Speaking in Washington at the Atlantic Council - a US-based international affairs think tank - the foreign minister said that "we know what great, great things we have managed to achieve together when Pakistan and the US have worked together and we know where we have faltered when we have been unable to cooperate or create that consensus".

“We know what great, great things we’ve managed to achieve together when Pakistan and the United States have worked together.”

Watch Foreign Minister @BBhuttoZardari share his insights on US-Pakistan relations and more at the @AtlanticCouncil.

🇺🇸-🇵🇰➡️ https://t.co/4ft8QBq3su pic.twitter.com/hUKmEPzInB

— Atlantic Council (@AtlanticCouncil) December 20, 2022

"What I am happy to report is that over the last seven to eight months that I have been the foreign minister of Pakistan, we have had a consistent back and forth of engagement with the US and at various levels," FM Bilawal added.

Read ‘US market bursting with potential for Pakistani products’

"Our report card for the last six months of foreign policy (FP) with the US-Pakistan relations is that if in the last decade 90 percent of our conversations were focussed around counter-terrorism, the war on terror, now we are engaging far more diversely on a whole host of issues," he continued.

Elaborating on the exchanges between Washington and Islamabad, Bilawal said that "we have had exchanges on climate, technology, health [...] even potential cooperation in agriculture".

“If in the last decade, 90% of our conversations were focused around counterterrorism, the war on terror, now we are engaging far more diversely on a whole host of issues.”

Watch @BBhuttoZardari share his insights on US-Pakistan relations: 🇺🇸-🇵🇰➡️ https://t.co/4ft8QBq3su pic.twitter.com/RbIK4bXbMs

— Atlantic Council (@AtlanticCouncil) December 20, 2022

"We certainly do still talk about terrorism in our bilateral engagements," he explained, "but we have a far more comprehensive itinerary in which we are now engaging".

Responding to questions, Bilawal said that "the story for Pakistan 10 to 20 years down the line is one of opportunity" as he urged "everyone to get it now while you still can when everyone doesn't see that opportunity so you can maximise your benefit later".

Speaking candidly, the FM admitted however that when he brought up the issue of investing in Pakistan's future in conversations, "they are over it".

“The story for Pakistan ten years down the line, twenty years down the line, is one of opportunity. And my pitch to everyone is get in now while you can.”

Watch Foreign Minister @BBhuttoZardari of Pakistan talk to @ACSouthAsia’s @UzairYounus: 🇵🇰➡️ https://t.co/4ft8QBq3su pic.twitter.com/halniiSw6G

— Atlantic Council (@AtlanticCouncil) December 20, 2022

"[They are] sick and tired, [say] sort out your own issues and then maybe we can think about it", however, he said he had succeeded in convincing potential investors to say "they are willing to give us a shot to come and explore bilateral economic opportunities to send their business teams, to send their commerce teams, to find win-win solutions".

Read More Pakistan won't tolerate TTP’s cross-border terrorism, reserves right for direct action: FM Bilawal

"We are in the very early stages [but] if I can manage to watch this develop one or two stages forward, there is so much opportunity for us to unlock, given the chance."

The minister also reflected on the devastating floods the country experienced during the monsoon season, saying "we experienced this year what can only be described as a climate catastrophe of biblical proportions".

“We experienced this year what can be only described as a climate catastrophe of biblical proportions.”

Watch Foreign Minister @BBhuttoZardari of Pakistan talk at the @AtlanticCouncil about the devastating flooding in his country earlier this year.

🇵🇰➡️ https://t.co/4ft8QBq3su pic.twitter.com/iVmuoEjdvR

— Atlantic Council (@AtlanticCouncil) December 20, 2022

The "extraordinary" rain-induced floods, Bilawal said, were the worst the country has ever experienced, but he noted that "we didn't experience it alone".

Also Read Pakistan-US ties heading in positive direction: FM Bilawal

"While we were flooded, China was experiencing the longest drought that they had ever seen," he stressed.

The devastating floods in Pakistan in 2022 were the worst since at least the historic floods of 2010.

But climate catastrophes around the world are very different now than a decade or more ago.

Watch @BBhuttoZardari explain at the @AtlanticCouncil: ➡️ https://t.co/4ft8QBq3su pic.twitter.com/qEbfcyN0KQ

— Atlantic Council (@AtlanticCouncil) December 20, 2022

"Before we were flooded, we were experiencing an extensive heat-wave and drought," he added, "you had forest fires raging in California. You had floods, forest fires and landslides I believe in Europe [...] and floods in Nigeria".

This, Bilawal stressed placed a strain on humanitarian and developmental aid, which at the moment is primarily directed towards Ukraine as it experiences war.