Ambassador of Pakistan to the United States, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, today
underscored the significance of an indispensable Pakistan-U.S. relations during a panel
discussion on “The Future of the U.S.-Pakistan Relationship” at the Future Security
Forum 2025 in Washington, D.C.
“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,” stated Ambassador Sheikh.
Highlighting the depth and continuity of the bilateral partnership, Ambassador
Sheikh noted that Pakistan and the United States shared a longstanding and
consequential relationship, marked by collaboration on critical global challenges
including counterterrorism and climate change.
The 11th Annual Future Security Forum was organized by Arizona State
University and New America in collaboration with Security & Defence PLuS. The event
brought together senior policymakers, defense experts, and thought leaders for
discussions on emerging global security dynamics.
The Ambassador thanked the U.S. leadership, 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 policymaking.
He spoke at length about Pakistan’s climate resilience and self-reliance. He said
that climate change was not an abstract concept for Pakistan but an existential crisis.
He recounted the country’s repeated cycles of devastating floods, describing new
phenomena such as cloudbursts and compounding, sequential climate disasters that
have destroyed infrastructure, reversed economic gains, and disrupted development
programs.
The Ambassador emphasized that Pakistan’s diplomacy today was deeply
intertwined with climate policy and economic security, noting that “what we build every
few years is washed away by floods, but we still must pay back what we borrowed to
rebuild.”
Reiterating Pakistan’s principled stance on IIOJK, the Ambassador called for
international mediation to help the Kashmiri people realize their right to self-
determination in line with UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions, emphasizing that
peace in South Asia remains contingent upon resolution of this longstanding dispute.
Rejecting “camp 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 choice for us. Our relationship with China didn’t start
yesterday, and it is not ending tomorrow,” he remarked, adding that the China-Pakistan
Economic Corridor (CPEC) should be viewed through an economic lens, as a facilitator
of regional connectivity and prosperity.
He recalled Pakistan’s pivotal role in fostering rapprochement between the
United States and China decades ago and expressed 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 from terrorism and will address it
resolutely. However, he reaffirmed that diplomacy remained Pakistan’s preferred
approach to resolving bilateral issues with both Afghanistan and India.
“Diplomacy is our preference. Pakistan’s history shows we have always stood for
diplomatic solutions,” reaffirmed the Ambassador.
On the issue of Afghan refugees, Ambassador Sheikh clarified that only
undocumented or illegal residents were being repatriated, and that Pakistan wanted to
ensure their return in a dignified manner. Movement across Pak Afghan border ought to
be visa based as per the international practice, he continued.
Regarding the ongoing Ukraine conflict, he acknowledged and welcomed peace
efforts led by the United States under President Trump’s leadership, expressing hope
for their success.
Ambassador Sheikh concluded by thanking the organizers of the Forum and
engaging with the audience in a constructive question-and-answer session,
emphasizing Pakistan’s enduring commitment to global peace, dialogue, and mutual
respect in international relations.
