Latest news with #PakistanUSRelations
Arab News
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Pakistan's Sidhu on US visit, first by an air chief in over a decade
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu is on a high-level official visit to the United States, the military said on Wednesday, the first by a serving Pakistan Air Force (PAF) chief in more than ten years. The visit comes just weeks after Pakistan's Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir met US President Donald Trump at the White House last month, part of a broader push to re-engage Washington on defense and other matters after years of fluctuating ties. During his trip, Sidhu met senior US military and civilian leaders, including General David W. Allvin, Chief of Staff of the US Air Force, and called on Kelli L. Seybolt, Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force for International Affairs. 'The high-profile visit marked a strategic milestone in Pakistan-US defense cooperation and proved instrumental in deepening institutional ties in addition to addressing key regional and global security issues,' the army said, adding that talks included discussions on interoperability, joint training initiatives, and avenues for technology exchange. At the Pentagon, the air chief highlighted the 'historic and multifaceted relationship between Pakistan and United States, particularly in the domains of defense and security cooperation.' Both sides agreed to sustain senior-level engagements to 'maintain momentum in the ongoing cooperative endeavors in the areas of joint training, operational exercises and military exchange programs.' In meetings at the US State Department with officials from the Bureaus of Political-Military Affairs and South & Central Asian Affairs, the air chief 'underscored Pakistan's constructive role in promoting regional stability' and reiterated its 'firm commitment to counterterrorism efforts.' Sidhu also addressed Pakistan's evolving security concerns amid changing geopolitical realities. On Capitol Hill, Sidhu met with several members of the US Congress, including Representatives Mike Turner, Rich McCormick and Bill Huizenga. The engagements 'reinforced the importance of robust engagement in strengthening bilateral relations' and allowed Pakistan to share its 'views on strategic challenges, regional security frameworks and the impact of emerging technologies on defense cooperation.' The PAF has historically maintained close ties with the US military, particularly during the Cold War and the post-9/11 period, when Pakistan received significant military assistance as part of post-9/11 counterterrorism cooperation, including F-16 sustainment and Coalition Support Funds. However, ties had frayed in recent years amid growing American frustration over Islamabad's ties to the Afghan Taliban and Washington's strategic pivot toward India. A US freeze on security assistance to Pakistan in 2018 under the first Trump administration marked a nadir in bilateral defense ties. Some cooperation resumed under the Biden administration, most notably a $450 million sustainment package for Pakistan's F-16 program approved in 2022. In this context, Sidhu's visit signals renewed efforts by Pakistan's military leadership to re-engage Washington on security cooperation, even as Islamabad deepens its defense ties with China and explores alternative partnerships in the Gulf and Central Asia. The Pakistan army said in its statement the landmark visit 'reaffirmed Pakistan Air Force's commitment to promoting regional and global peace,' while laying 'the groundwork for renewed institutional collaboration, strategic dialogue and enhanced interoperability' between the two air forces.
Arab News
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Gen. Sidhu visits US, first by a Pakistan air chief in over a decade
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu is on a high-level official visit to the United States, the military said on Wednesday, the first by a serving Pakistan Air Force (PAF) chief in more than ten years. The visit comes just weeks after Pakistan's Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir met US President Donald Trump at the White House last month, part of a broader push to re-engage Washington on defense and other matters after years of fluctuating ties. During his trip, Sidhu met senior US military and civilian leaders, including General David W. Allvin, Chief of Staff of the US Air Force, and called on Kelli L. Seybolt, Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force for International Affairs. 'The high-profile visit marked a strategic milestone in Pakistan-US defense cooperation and proved instrumental in deepening institutional ties in addition to addressing key regional and global security issues,' the army said, adding that talks included discussions on interoperability, joint training initiatives, and avenues for technology exchange. At the Pentagon, the air chief highlighted the 'historic and multifaceted relationship between Pakistan and United States, particularly in the domains of defense and security cooperation.' Both sides agreed to sustain senior-level engagements to 'maintain momentum in the ongoing cooperative endeavors in the areas of joint training, operational exercises and military exchange programs.' In meetings at the US State Department with officials from the Bureaus of Political-Military Affairs and South & Central Asian Affairs, the air chief 'underscored Pakistan's constructive role in promoting regional stability' and reiterated its 'firm commitment to counterterrorism efforts.' Sidhu also addressed Pakistan's evolving security concerns amid changing geopolitical realities. On Capitol Hill, Sidhu met with several members of the US Congress, including Representatives Mike Turner, Rich McCormick and Bill Huizenga. The engagements 'reinforced the importance of robust engagement in strengthening bilateral relations' and allowed Pakistan to share its 'views on strategic challenges, regional security frameworks and the impact of emerging technologies on defense cooperation.' The PAF has historically maintained close ties with the US military, particularly during the Cold War and the post-9/11 period, when Pakistan received significant military assistance as part of post-9/11 counterterrorism cooperation, including F-16 sustainment and Coalition Support Funds. However, ties had frayed in recent years amid growing American frustration over Islamabad's ties to the Afghan Taliban and Washington's strategic pivot toward India. A US freeze on security assistance to Pakistan in 2018 under the first Trump administration marked a nadir in bilateral defense ties. Some cooperation resumed under the Biden administration, most notably a $450 million sustainment package for Pakistan's F-16 program approved in 2022. In this context, Sidhu's visit signals renewed efforts by Pakistan's military leadership to re-engage Washington on security cooperation, even as Islamabad deepens its defense ties with China and explores alternative partnerships in the Gulf and Central Asia. The Pakistan army said in its statement the landmark visit 'reaffirmed Pakistan Air Force's commitment to promoting regional and global peace,' while laying 'the groundwork for renewed institutional collaboration, strategic dialogue and enhanced interoperability' between the two air forces.
Arab News
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Trump hosts Pakistan army chief for unprecedented lunch, confirms Iran discussed
ISLAMABAD: US President Donald Trump on Wednesday hosted Pakistan's army chief for lunch in an unprecedented White House meeting, after which he told reporters he was 'honored' to meet Field Marshal General Asim Munir and that the two had discussed the ongoing Iran-Israel crisis. This was the first time in many years that a Pakistani army chief was hosted by a sitting US president at the White House, highlighting Washington's renewed interest in maintaining influence in South Asia as regional tensions flare. After the schedule for the lunch was announced this week, Pakistani media widely speculated that Munir would press Trump not to enter Israel's war with Iran and to seek a ceasefire. A section of Pakistan's embassy in Washington represents Iran's interests in the United States as Tehran does not have diplomatic relations with the US. Munir's White House meeting during the ongoing Mideast conflict has also fueled speculation in Islamabad that Washington could push Pakistan to align more openly with the US position, which has historically been supportive of Israel. Such pressure could complicate Pakistan's delicate balancing act in the Middle East, where it maintains close ties with Iran and other Gulf partners and sympathizes with the Palestinian cause but seeks to avoid getting dragged into regional rivalries that could inflame tensions at home. 'Well, they [Pakistan] know Iran very well, better than most, and they're not happy about anything [Iran-Israel conflict],' Trump said in response to a question by a reporter after his meeting with Munir on whether Iran came up in the discussion. 'It's not that they're better with Israel. They [Pakistan] know them both actually, but they probably, maybe, know Iran better, but they [Pakistan] see what's going on. And he [Field Marshal General Asim Munir] agreed with me.' Trump did not specify what the Pakistani general had agreed with him on, and went on to talk about last month's military conflict between India and Pakistan that the US president has publicly claimed credit for ending with a ceasefire. Nuclear-armed neighbors India and Pakistan engaged in their fiercest military conflict in decades between May 7-10, exchanging drones, missiles and artillery for nearly four days before Trump announced he had brokered a truce. 'The reason I had him [Munir] here, I wanted to thank him for not going into the war [with India], just, you know, ending the war,' Trump said, also giving credit to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 'So, I was honored to meet him [Munir] today.' Tensions between Israel and Iran have spiked sharply since last Friday when Israeli forces struck multiple targets including Iranian nuclear sites and senior officials. Iran retaliated with attacks on Israeli territory, raising fears of a wider Middle East war that could threaten global energy supplies and regional stability. Pakistan, which shares a long border with Iran and maintains historic ties with Tehran, has repeatedly called for de-escalation and a ceasefire in the region. Defense Minister Khawaja Asif told Pakistan's Geo TV that Munir's White House visit would give the army chief a chance to share Pakistan's perspective on the conflict and push Washington to help prevent further escalation. Pakistan's military plays a key role in shaping the country's foreign policy, and Munir's high-profile White House invitation is being seen as part of Washington's broader effort to recalibrate ties with Islamabad, a vital but often difficult ally for the US in South Asia. Local media in Pakistan reported that Munir's visit had been arranged weeks in advance. Analysts say the rare top-level contact underscores how the US wants to maintain strategic leverage in a region shaped by the rivalries of three nuclear powers — China, India and Pakistan — and rising instability in the Middle East.
Bloomberg
17-06-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Pakistan, US Target Early Trade Deal After High-Level Discussion
Pakistan and US officials held high-level tariff talks on Monday and aim to finalize a trade agreement at the earliest, Islamabad said in a statement, as the South Asian nation pushes for relief from retaliatory duties imposed by President Donald Trump. A virtual discussion took place between Pakistan's Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and the US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on 16th June, according to a statement released by Pakistan's Ministry of Finance on Tuesday.
Arab News
30-05-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Pakistan formally initiates talks with US on ‘reciprocal tariffs' amid export concerns
KARACHI: Pakistan has formally begun negotiations with the United States over newly imposed 'reciprocal tariffs,' an official statement said on Friday, with Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb holding a conference call with US Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer to launch the process. The talks come after US President Donald Trump imposed steep tariffs on a number of countries earlier this year, a move widely viewed as a setback for the global economy still recovering from the coronavirus pandemic. Defending the action, Trump said the tariffs were necessary to correct trade imbalances and counter what he described as unfair treatment of American goods abroad. Pakistan was among the countries affected, with a 29 percent tariff placed on its goods at a time when Islamabad is pushing for export-driven growth. Aurangzeb called the development both a challenge and an opportunity to reset trade ties in April, adding that a high-level delegation would soon travel to Washington to pursue the matter further. 'Pakistan's formal negotiations on US reciprocal tariffs kick-started between Mr. Muhammad Aurangzeb, Pakistan's Finance Minister and Ambassador Jamieson Greer, United States Trade Representative through a telephonic/conference call on 30th May, 2025,' the finance ministry said. 'The two sides exchanged their viewpoint through a constructive engagement with the understanding that technical level detailed discussions would follow in the coming few weeks,' it added. The ministry said both sides expressed confidence in advancing the negotiations toward a successful conclusion at the earliest. The US is Pakistan's largest export destination, and the newly imposed duties threaten to undermine Islamabad's fragile economic recovery. According to Pakistan's central bank, the country exported $5.44 billion worth of goods to the US in 2024. From July to February of the current fiscal year, exports to the US reached $4 billion, up 10 percent from the same period last year. Nearly 90 percent of those exports are textiles, which analysts say will be hardest hit. Experts have also warned previously the tariffs could reduce Pakistan's competitiveness, especially if regional exporters such as China, Bangladesh and Vietnam redirect more goods to Europe, intensifying competition in alternative markets.
