Image: R to L Akbar Khan, Ambassador Asad Khan, Congressman Brad Sherman, Mossadaq Chughtai Credit: Asim Siddiqui
As the United States and Pakistan navigate through challenges in the way of South Asian peace and stability, an event outside of Washington D.C this week highlighted how Pakistani-Americans bring the two countries together.
Pakistan’s ambassador to the United States Asad M Khan and Congressman Brad Sherman, a Democrat from California, the two key speakers at the reception at the reception – hosted by a co-founder of Pakistan Congressional Caucus Mossadaq Chughtai – acknowledged the enormous importance of the community.
“They are truly the bridge-builders and a vital connection between the two countries,” said Pakistan’s ambassador to the United States Asad Khan.
“Pakistani-Americans are among the most highly educated and wealthiest community in the United States,” said Congressman Sherman, who chairs the House sub-committee on Asia, said at the event in Vienna, Virginia. 
He said he knows from his experience that how Pakistani-Americans have progressed to be a dynamic and successful community, and contribute greatly to America’s development.
The gathering included an array of Pakistani-American professionals including businessmen, finance experts, physicians, innovators, inventors and international investors, invited by Mossadaq and his wife Mrs. Malika Chughtai, also a leader on several community causes.
Mrs. Malika and Mr. Mossadaq Chughtai with Ambassador Khan
Image Credit: Asim Siddiqu
The presence of several high achievers like doctors and entrepreneurs reflected the achievements of Pakistani-Americans, often hailed as one of the most successful immigrant communities.
Ambassador Khan informed members of the community about initiatives to facilitate American investment in Pakistan, saying the focus of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s governm ent is the well-being of the people.
He said the U.S. remains one of the largest trading partners of Pakistan and American companies are making more investments into the country with good returns.
On U.S.-Pakistan relations – which in the words of President Donald Trump are currently very good – Ambassador Khan noted that Pakistan and Pakistanis have a huge potential for economic growth and Islamabad and Washington have been large trading partners.
However, he said, Pakistan has been viewed through Afghan lens in Washington.
Pakistan, he said, is a market of over 200 million people and offers connectivity to key countries in the regions.
The ambassador’s remarks referred to Washington’s regional stance revolving around the Afghan war and Pakistan’s role in confronting terrorism along the Afghan border.
It is after years of ups and downs in the relations that the U.S. and Pakistan are currently working to find a viable reconciliation path to peace and stability in Afghanistan.
Commenting on Ambassador Khan’s remarks, Congressman Sherman recognized the country’s critical importance to U.S. interests and said he would stress upon his colleagues on the Capitol Hill that Afghanistan is important because it is a neighbor of Pakistan.
In his remarks, Mossadaq Chughtai, a leading entrepreneur, said the Pakistanis at the gathering represented a success story, with billions of dollars in businesses and services in wide-ranging areas of the economy.
He suggested that Washington review its travel advisories on Pakistan – which has shown marked improvement in security through counterterror campaigns as recounted by Ambassador Khan in his speech – so that Americans and Pakistanis can both benefit fully from the massive investment, trade and business opportunities.
