US senator Cory Booker has hailed the Pakistani-American community as a great asset to the American nation, which can help build a mutually beneficial relationship between the United States and Pakistan.
The Democratic lawmaker was speaking at a Pakistan Independence Day event, hosted by the American Pakistani Public Affairs Committee, APPAC on the 75th anniversary of the South Asian country’s inception.
“We have an extraordinary community in America, and particularly New Jersey where a Pakistani community that is bringing and adding to the strength of our nation,” the senator, who represents New Jersey in the 100-member chamber in Washington D.C., said.
“It’s very important that we recognize that the Pakistani community here in the United States is one of the great assets of us as a nation,” he said, speaking after Dr.Ijaz Ahmad, chairman APPAC, who accorded a warm welcome to the senator.
Booker, who sits on the influential Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said he is working with the organization – dedicated to empowering the Pakistani American community – because their collective efforts can help America accomplish more nationally as well as fortify the key US-Pakistan relationship.
“We also believe that we can do more to create a stronger tie between America and Pakistan and we can find common ground, we can work for our mutual economic benefit. We can work together in cultural exchange, work together in building for the future generations of young people that have a bond between our two nations.”
He acknowledged there are challenges in the way of realizing such a close relationship but at the same time expressed confidence that the goal could be achieved.
“What you have in America is such a strong diaspora, such a strong community of Pakistanis here to help guide this nation toward that stronger relationship. That is what we hope for.”
Booker, who is the first African-American senator from New Jersey, praised the founding ideals of Pakistan including its promise to be a multicultural and diverse nation with a commitment to peace and prosperity.
“And I pray Insha Allah that we shall see our two nations grow closer together with stronger economic, and cultural ties and a stronger commitment to peace and prosperity. That I believe can happen not just because we are two individually great nations, I believe it can happen because of the ties we have in America with Pakistani American helping to lead to that hopeful future.”
While praising the dynamism of the Pakistani American community, Senator Booker cited the example of trail-blazing Pakistani-born US Federal Court Judge Zahid Qureshi. He said Qureshi was not just the first Pakistani federal judge but the first ever Muslim to be appointed to the position.
He also noted that both America and Pakistan had a similar story in breaking the yoke of colonialism and seeking freedom and prosperity and was confident that the United States would have many more Muslim judges in the future.
