Redefining US-Pakistan relations

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Since arriving in Pakistan in May 2022 as US Ambassador, my focus has been to strengthen and redefine the US-Pakistan relationship, grounding it firmly in areas of mutual interest and cooperation on shared global challenges. It was time to reframe the relationship - not as a lens of Afghanistan-Pakistan or India-Pakistan, but as a deep and enduring partnership between the United States and Pakistan. In the last two and a half years, we've broadened and deepened that partnership and made important progress in areas that matter most to Pakistanis: jobs, affordable energy, clean water, health, and education.

It hasn't always been easy. Together, we've faced monumental challenges: devastating floods, a global pandemic, economic uncertainty, and the lingering effects of war. But those of us who've worked together to strengthen this relationship understand something fundamental: this journey is long, and each step we take - each act of collaboration - brings us closer to a future of shared prosperity and security for both our nations.

The United States and Pakistan share a history of cooperation dating back to Pakistan's independence. In recent years, we've built on that legacy. After the devastating floods of 2022, we didn't just respond; we mobilised the international community to help millions of Pakistanis recover and rebuild. We delivered life-saving aid and rebuilt health facilities, water systems, and schools. More than $216 million in US assistance helped Pakistani communities rise from the devastation. But we didn't stop there - we made sure that our recovery efforts built a strong foundation for future progress.

For decades, the United States has invested in Pakistan and its future. In the last two and a half years, we continued to build on those investments. The United States didn't just help build the Mangla, Tarbela, and other dams that provide clean energy to millions of Pakistanis. Recent upgrades funded by the United States - including new GE turbines - increase access to reliable, affordable electricity for millions more, and ensure these facilities will continue to provide power for generations to come.

Since 2005, the United States has invested almost $2 billion in infrastructure across Pakistan - roads and bridges; schools and universities; health clinics and hospitals; solar, wind, and hydro energy solutions; electricity transmission lines; and water and irrigation. US investment has and continues to create jobs for Pakistanis; provide training, technology, and upskilling; and lift up local communities. And our investments are built on US-funded grants, not loans, which do not need to be paid back. That's the kind of partnership we believe in.

Economic growth has been a cornerstone of our relationship. During my tenure as Ambassador, we've made economic reform and increasing US trade and investment top priorities. Because we want to see a Pakistan that is safe, strong, and secure. A Pakistan that is economically independent. A Pakistan able to take advantage of shifts in the global economy that can reap the benefits of fair and competitive markets.

In recent years, we've seen Pakistan's exports to the United States grow steadily, reaching more than $6 billion in just the first 10 months of 2024. And US companies want to do business here. In 2024, US companies provided jobs to more than 120,000 Pakistanis and supported the livelihoods of over a million more through their broader economic impact. Pakistan can attract more trade and investment - especially US investment - and break free from the vicious circle of debt and international financing, if it maintains a consistent commitment to economic reform, creates certainty and confidence for investors, and boldly pursues strong, sustainable, inclusive growth. Doing so would stabilise the economy and provide higher living standards for the Pakistani people.

Improving access to quality education and health care has also been central to our collaboration. We've invested in schools, scholarships, and university partnerships. Throughout the last decade, the United States built hundreds of new schools for Pakistani children, and rehabilitated thousands more. Each year, we welcome hundreds of Pakistani students to the United States for cultural and educational exchanges, knowing that they will return to drive progress here in Pakistan. Our healthcare partnerships - from combating polio and tuberculosis to saving women and children at risk of death from malnutrition - reflect our shared commitment to the well-being of Pakistan's people.

Across all of these areas, we have built something enduring. The US-Pakistan partnership reflects the best of what we can achieve when we work together with shared purpose.

Traveling across Pakistan - from Gwadar to Gilgit, and everywhere in between - I've been struck by the beauty of this country and the richness of its culture. I've hiked the Himalayan foothills, shared conversations over chai, been moved by qawwali performances, and felt the thrill of the T20 Cricket World Cup. In Punjab, I've seen how Pakistan's agricultural heartland is being strengthened by US technology and innovation. In Karachi, I've met entrepreneurs shaping the country's economic future. In Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, I witnessed the kindness, hospitality, and generosity of Pakistani communities hosting Afghan refugees. And everywhere I've gone, I've encountered young leaders - bright, ambitious, and ready to lead their nation forward. These moments of connection remind me that the bonds between our people are as important as the policies we pursue.

It has been a great honour to serve as US Ambassador to Pakistan. I'm deeply proud of what we've built and all that we have achieved together. But I know that this is just a step in our shared history. As our partnership continues to grow, we can build a future defined not by the challenges we've faced, but by the opportunity and prosperity we have created. That journey continues, and I am confident that by working together side-by-side, the ties between our nations will only grow stronger in the years ahead.