- Thanks to Trump for ending the 88-hour standoff, calling it a “vital act.”
- Urges UN-backed Kashmir to issue mediation for regional peace.
- He says only undocumented Afghan refugees will be repatriated.
WASHINGTON, DC: Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States Rizwan Saeed Sheikh reaffirmed Islamabad’s commitment to diplomacy, stability and pragmatic economic policies and called the Pakistan-US partnership “vital” for peace and progress.
“Between the two mega-countries of today and tomorrow – from both a present and a futuristic perspective – good relations are not a matter of choice or preference; they are indispensable,” Ambassador Sheikh said during a panel discussion on “The Future of the US-Pakistan Relationship” at the Future Security Forum 2025 in Washington, DC.
Highlighting the depth and continuity of the bilateral partnership, Ambassador Sheikh noted that Pakistan and the United States shared a long-standing and momentous relationship, marked by collaboration on critical global challenges, including counterterrorism and climate change.
The 11th Annual Future Security Forum was hosted by Arizona State University and New America in collaboration with Security & Defense PLuS. The event brought together senior policymakers, defense experts and thought leaders to discuss emerging global security dynamics.
He thanked American leaders, particularly President Trump, for facilitating the ceasefire that ended the 88-hour standoff, calling it “a vital act that prevented escalation in a nuclear neighborhood of 1.7 billion people.”
Addressing a wide range of issues, including climate change, India-Pakistan relations, the situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), China-Pakistan relations, the Ukraine conflict and regional tensions with Afghanistan, Ambassador Sheikh reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to diplomacy, stability and pragmatic policy formulation.
He spoke at length about Pakistan’s climate resilience and self-reliance. He said climate change was not an abstract concept for Pakistan but an existential crisis.
The ambassador recounted the country’s repeated cycles of devastating floods, describing new phenomena such as sequential and aggravated storms and climate disasters that have destroyed infrastructure, reversed economic advances and interrupted development programs.
Sheikh emphasized that Pakistan’s diplomacy today is deeply intertwined with climate policy and economic security, noting that “what we build every few years is washed away by floods, but we still have to pay back what we borrowed to rebuild.”
Reiterating Pakistan’s principled stance on IIOJK, he called for international mediation to help the people of Kashmir realize their right to self-determination in accordance with UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions, emphasizing that peace in South Asia remains dependent on the resolution of this long-standing dispute.
Rejecting “field politics”, he said Pakistan’s foreign policy seeks balanced relations. He asserted that Pakistan’s ties with Beijing were rooted in historical continuity and economic cooperation.
“There is no binary option for us. Our relationship with China did not start yesterday and will not end tomorrow,” he said, adding that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) should be viewed through an economic lens, as an enabler of regional connectivity and prosperity.
He recalled the pivotal role Pakistan played in fostering rapprochement between the United States and China decades ago and expressed its readiness to play a similar role today as an economic bridge for global peace and progress.
Condemning cross-border terrorism from Afghanistan, Ambassador Sheikh stated that Pakistan has endured immense suffering due to terrorism and will address it resolutely.
However, he reaffirmed that diplomacy remained Pakistan’s preferred approach to resolve bilateral issues with both Afghanistan and India.
“Diplomacy is our preference. Pakistan’s history shows that we have always defended diplomatic solutions,” the ambassador reaffirmed.
On the issue of Afghan refugees, Ambassador Sheikh clarified that only undocumented or illegal residents were repatriated and that Pakistan wanted to ensure their return in a dignified manner.
Movement across the Pakistan-Afghanistan border should be visa-based as per international practice, he continued.
Regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, he acknowledged and welcomed the US-led peace efforts under the leadership of President Trump, expressing hope in their success.
Ambassador Sheikh concluded by thanking the organizers of the Forum and interacting with the audience in a constructive question and answer session, underlining Pakistan’s enduring commitment to global peace, dialogue and mutual respect in international relations.
