ISLAMABAD: Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Information and Broadcasting Barrister Danyal Chaudhry has said Pakistan is committed to further strengthening bilateral relations with the United States through parliamentary diplomacy, people-to-people contacts and expanded cooperation in multiple sectors.
He made the remarks while reflecting on a high-level meeting held at Parliament House between the Pakistan-US Parliamentary Friendship Group and a visiting US Congressional delegation.
The meeting was led by Convener and MNA Syed Hussain Tariq, with parliamentarians from various political parties in attendance. The US delegation included Congressmen Ryan Zinke and Michael Baumgartner.
Barrister Danyal said the people of Pakistan viewed with appreciation the diplomatic role played by US President Donald Trump in de-escalating tensions during the recent Pakistan-India standoff, saying the gesture reflected growing trust and a positive direction in bilateral relations.
He said strong parliamentary linkages between Pakistan and the United States not only promoted mutual understanding but also opened new opportunities for cooperation in trade, education, investment, academic exchanges and institutional partnerships.
The parliamentary secretary stressed the need to revive the Pakistan Caucus in the US Congress to further strengthen legislative ties between the two countries.
He noted that the visit of the US delegation to Pakistan and its meetings with the country’s military leadership, during which Pakistan’s role in regional peace was acknowledged, were clear evidence that Pakistan-US relations were moving forward positively, with both sides eager to enhance cooperation.
Barrister Danyal also dismissed a recent Pew Research Center survey as inconsistent with ground realities. He said Pakistanis took great pride in their enduring friendship with China, but this did not imply negative perceptions of the United States.
He added that Pakistan-US relations, built over decades, were rooted in mutual respect, shared interests and steady progress in diplomatic, parliamentary and public engagement.
Other parliamentarians present at the meeting expressed similar views and rejected the survey findings as unrepresentative of public sentiment.
