US envoy Natalie Baker says bilateral ties have evolved into a genuine strategic partnership
Image: The Diplomatic Insight
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan’s strong and enduring relationship with the United States while addressing a ceremony marking the 250th anniversary of American independence in Islamabad on Thursday.
Congratulating US President Donald Trump, the US administration, and the American people, the prime minister said Pakistan and the United States have shared diplomatic ties for more than eight decades. He noted that the US was among the first countries to recognize Pakistan after independence.
PM Shehbaz highlighted cooperation in agriculture, education, economic development, counterterrorism, trade, and investment. He also noted that thousands of Pakistanis have studied in the United States, while nearly one million Pakistanis consider the country their second home.
The prime minister praised President Trump as a proponent of peace and credited him with helping ease tensions between Pakistan and India during last year’s crisis. He also said Pakistan was playing a constructive role in facilitating dialogue between the United States and Iran.
PM Shehbaz commended Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir for his efforts in promoting regional peace and stability.
Speaking at the event, US Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker described the US-Pakistan relationship as a true strategic partnership built on mutual respect, shared interests, and a common vision for prosperity and security.
Baker praised President Trump’s engagement with Pakistan’s leadership and highlighted Islamabad’s role in facilitating high-level contacts between Washington and Tehran. She said Pakistan’s strong relations with both countries uniquely positioned it to help bring the two sides together.
The US envoy also highlighted people-to-people connections, cultural exchanges, and Pakistan’s contribution to global sports. She noted that footballs manufactured in Pakistan will be used during the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Concluding her remarks, Baker expressed optimism about future cooperation, saying the strongest chapter of the US-Pakistan partnership may still lie ahead.
