Pakistan desires a broad-based strategic partnership, including trade and economic cooperation both at the bilateral and regional level, with the United States, said Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi. 

His remark came during a virtual meeting with the Asian Committee of the US House of Representatives Leadership. Later, in a statement released by the country’s Foreign Office, Qureshi said Pakistan wanted to forge close economic and trade ties with the US. 

The partnership between the two countries, he claimed, could promote regional connectivity, and help integrate the region economically. 

Earlier, when he was in New York to attend an emergency UNGA session on the issue of Palestine, Qureshi had a meeting with US Senator Lindsay Graham. In his meeting with the senator, he discussed the ways to enhance cooperation between the two countries in increasing agricultural productivity in Pakistan. 

Ever since the Biden Administration took charge in the US, Pakistan has been pushing for independent, broad-based bilateral ties beyond the US’ regional strategic interests. However, Islamabad’s call for renewed understanding has not been reciprocated by the US so far. 

Moeed Yusuf, who has been recently appointed as Pakistan’s National Security Advisor, had earlier called for de-hyphenating the bilateral ties from regional political dynamics.

(SAM)