Blinken’s point man to visit Pakistan

Visit part of a renewed push to expand Pakistan-US cooperation beyond security and Afghanistan

ISLAMABAD:

US Secretary of State Antony J Blinken’s point man is due to arrive in Islamabad on Friday (tomorrow) as part of renewed push by the two countries to expand their cooperation beyond security and Afghanistan.

US Department of State Counsellor Derek Chollet will lead a delegation, including Counsellor of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) Clinton White and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs at the of State Department Elizabeth Horst.

According to a State Department statement, Chollet will arrive in Islamabad on February 17 after visiting Bangladesh. In Pakistan, the US delegation will meet with senior officials to discuss strengthening of economic ties, cooperating in addressing the impacts of the climate crisis, and expansion of the people-to-people connections.

“The delegation will also reaffirm the strong security cooperation between our nations. Counsellor Chollet will convey US condolences for the recent terrorist attack at a Peshawar mosque, and reaffirm our solidarity with the Pakistani people as they continue to recover from the devastating 2022 floods,” the statement read.

The future of Pakistan-US ties have remained uncertain after the withdrawal of the US forces from neighbouring Afghanistan in August 2021 and also the changing priorities of Washington, which is more keen to expand its ties with India to counter China.

Pakistan, however, is keen to maintain relationship with the US and is interested in expanding cooperation beyond security and Afghanistan. However, observers are sceptical if Pakistan can achieve that objective.

Nevertheless, there has been a flurry of engagements between the two countries in recent months particularly after the change of government in April last year.

As the US delegation headed to Pakistan, the two countries were having mid-level defense dialogue in Washington. This is the second round of Pakistan-US Mid-Level Defence Dialogue that will conclude on Thursday (today).

The first round of the dialogue was held in Pakistan in January 2021. In September last year, the Biden Administration had proposed a $450-million sale for Pakistan to refurbish its F-16 fighters fleet. The move would help Pakistan sustain its capability to meet current and future counterterrorism threats.