US State Department Counsellor Derek Chollet, accompanied by a senior US government delegation, including Counsellor of the US Agency for International Development Clinton White and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Pakistan Elizabeth Horst, visited Islamabad on February 16-17 to emphasise the significance of the bilateral relationship between the US and Pakistan and to reaffirm the two countries’ shared goals. During his trip, Counsellor Chollet engaged in discussions on several issues, including boosting economic ties, addressing the impacts of the climate crisis, expanding people-to-people connections, and expressing the US’s solidarity with the Pakistani people as they recover from the devastating 2022 floods.
According to a statement from the US Embassy in Pakistan, the United States and Pakistan have had a robust partnership for decades and will continue to work towards strengthening it in various areas, including trade, investment, climate, clean energy, health, security, education, and other shared priorities. The statement added that Counsellor Chollet’s visit to Pakistan provided a valuable opportunity to learn about the country’s progress in response to the floods and how the US and other donors and partners can most effectively support Pakistan’s resilient recovery.
Counsellor Chollet held meetings with various high-ranking officials in Pakistan to discuss bilateral cooperation in several areas. During his meeting with Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, they discussed strengthening the US-Pakistan bilateral partnership and the economic cooperation needed as Pakistan continues to recover and rebuild after the floods. He also had discussions with Army Chief General Asim Munir on security cooperation and counterterrorism efforts, while the delegation talked about economic reform and improving the regulatory environment with Minister of State for Finance and Revenue Dr. Aisha Ghaus Pasha.
In another meeting, Counsellor Chollet and Minister of Planning Ahsan Iqbal discussed the future opportunities within the US-Pakistan Green Alliance, which builds upon the two countries’ history of environmental collaboration. Through the Green Alliance, the US and Pakistan will work together to strengthen climate resilience, pursue energy transformation, and foster inclusive economic growth.
The delegation will build on the Counselor’s visit and dialogues at the first Trade and Investment Framework Agreement Council of 2016 next week and the second Energy Security Dialogue and Climate and Environment Working Group this spring, as the US government is dedicated to expanding the full range of cooperation and ties between the Pakistani and American people to promote a more stable, secure, and prosperous future for both our nations.
