The United States and Pakistani chief diplomats held discussions on strengthening bilateral relations as they met on the sidelines of a meeting on the food security challenges that are upending economies and adding to the general sense of insecurity heightened by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the effects of the pandemic.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken welcomed Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to the event at the United Nations headquarters in New York, as he noted that the food security situation has been exacerbated dramatically by Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, adding another 40 million people to those who are food insecure.
“So, we’re coming together and I’m grateful for Pakistan’s participation and engagement on this to look at concrete steps we can take to address the food insecurity issues, to help people in need around the world.”
Blinken said their meeting is “an important opportunity for us to talk about the many issues where we’re working together.”
“We want to focus on the work we’re doing to strengthen our economic and commercial ties between the United States and Pakistan; of course, focus on regional security. And Pakistan is now in the chairmanship of the G77 and the United States is looking forward to strengthening our own relations and dialogue and communication with the G77. I look very much forward to speaking to the foreign minister about that,” he said before going into the meeting that lasted for 45 minutes.
Speaking to correspondents, Bilawal Zardari said Pakistan is aware that recent geopolitical events have indeed aggravated the situation with regard to global food security, and that countries like Pakistan have already been facing challenges in food security, water security, energy insecurity because of a whole host of issues ranging from climate change to issues in our neighborhood.
“So, this particular initiative is most welcome and most important.”
Bilawal Zardari told the U.S. diplomat that he looked forward to the opportunity to “increasing engagement between Pakistan and the United States, working with yourself and your administration to improve trade relations between Pakistan and the United States and create opportunities for American investors, and Pakistani investors, and Pakistani businessmen, and American entrepreneurs to work together.”
The meeting in New York followed a May 6 phone call by Blinken to Bhutto-Zardari during which the American diplomat reiterated the desire to strengthen the broad-based US-Pakistan bilateral relationship.
During his visit, Bilawal Zardari said Pakistan’s new government believed in “trade, not aid” as the two countries seek to rebuild their relations.
Pakistan, he said, believed in engagement and will continue to advance its relations with all countries, and he welcome the US initiative to convene the food security meeting.
The U.S. and Pakistan relations, considered a key to South Asian peace, have been strained in recent weeks after former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan accused Washington of orchestrating a regime change in Islamabad that saw the Khan government’s ouster through a no-trust move in the Parliament
The U.S. has categorically denied any role in the domestic political developments in Pakistan, saying it has no favorites.
Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari represents the new government, which is a coalition of the former opposition parties that removed Khan through the no-confidence motion in the lower house of the Parliament.
In a readout of the meeting, the State Department said the two diplomats discussed expanding cooperation in several areas of common interest.
“Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met today with Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in New York City to affirm the shared desire for a strong and prosperous bilateral relationship. The Secretary and the Foreign Minister discussed expanding partnership in climate, investment, trade, and health as well as people-to-people ties. They underscored the importance of U.S.-Pakistan cooperation on regional peace, counterterrorism, Afghan stability, support for Ukraine, and democratic principles. The Secretary welcomed Pakistan’s Chairmanship of the G77 and committed to advancing climate action and global food security,” Spokesperson Ned Price said.
