Pakistan and the US once again reiterated that their ties are on a sound-footing, and ingrained in a deep-rooted economic and security calculus. The debut meeting of Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar with Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington DC was a breakthrough of sorts, as it came on the heels of several CBMs between the two countries.
Islamabad's proactive diplomacy in the wake of a four-day military conflict with India has helped it put across its point of view in a more coordinated manner, and the same has been eulogised and appreciated by the White House. Thus, the thrust to buoy relations in the trade and commerce realms is an outcome of congeniality and strong convergence, and the newly realised momentum is in need of being graduated to new heights of success.
The fact that Washington and Islamabad stressed to enhance institutional cooperation is a good omen. Likewise, the departure from looking at the prism of security, and Afghanistan, when it comes to bilateralism is appreciated, and now is the time to work on a comprehensive counterterrorism mechanism for regional serenity, and to browbeat the surging terror nexus.
There are plenty of opportunities and avenues where collaboration can take place, and both the countries have righty pinpointed at cooperation in diverse sectors, expressing determination to work together for long-term stability and prosperity. Pakistan eagerly looks forward to American investment in agriculture and technology, as well as in IT and AI.
Pakistan is the new and preferred destination for exploring minerals, and the interest that President Trump has shown in it must solicit a roadmap of big-ticket investment. Similarly, higher education, health, energy and climate change are areas where much potential exists, and Pakistan looks up to the US for helping it build its civil capabilities through its expertise. The patch-up, after ties being at their lowest ebb, should also ensure that the denominators of democracy and people-to-people cooperation take a shot in the arm.
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