The delegation includes Counsellor of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) Clinton White and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs at the State Department Elizabeth Horst.
After his trip to Bangladesh, Chollet is scheduled to arrive in Islamabad on February 17. The discussion of expanding cooperation beyond security and Afghanistan is the main topic on the visit’s agenda. Senior officials will meet with the US delegation to discuss expanding people-to-people ties, bolstering economic ties, and working together to address the effects of the climate crisis.
Additionally, the US government will reaffirm its commitment to close security cooperation with China. The delegation will offer condolences for the most recent terrorist assault on a mosque in Peshawar and reiterate its support for the Pakistani people as they work to recover from the devastation of the floods of 2022.
Pakistan wants to continue working with the US and go beyond just security in Afghanistan. Experts, however, have doubts about the nation’s capacity to fulfil this goal and increase interpersonal connections.
There have been a number of engagements between the two countries in recent months, particularly after the change of government in April last year. Currently, Washington is hosting the second round of mid-level defense talks after the first round took place in Pakistan in January 2021.
Moreover, the United States has proposed a $450 million sale to Pakistan to refurbish its F-16 fighter fleet, which will allow the country to meet current and future counterterrorism threats.
In conclusion, the visit by the US delegation to Pakistan is a significant step towards enhancing the two nations’ bilateral relations. The US has stated that it is committed to extending cooperation beyond security in Afghanistan, and the conversations will centre on business ties, climate change, and interpersonal relationships. The ongoing engagements between Pakistan and the US are encouraging for the future as Pakistan is eager to keep up its relationship with the US.
