Ambassador Rizwan Saeed says Pakistan balancing regional role with stronger US ties

Pakistan's diplomatic relations with the United States have reached a level of strength unseen in decades, according to Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Sheikh. Speaking at the annual dinner of the Pakistani-American Press Association, the ambassador described the current state of affairs as unusually positive, marking a departure from the decades-long swings between cooperation and confrontation.

However, Sheikh cautioned against complacency, emphasizing the need to translate the improved political and strategic ties into a durable partnership, particularly in terms of Pakistan's economic interests.

This assessment came just a day after Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkiye signed a joint defense agreement. For Pakistan, the challenge lies in managing these expanding regional relationships while maintaining its crucial relationship with Washington. Despite this, Sheikh's remarks suggest that Islamabad sees no contradiction in maintaining strong ties with both the US and other regional powers.