us president visit pakistan

Visits By Foreign Leaders of Pakistan

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The US deputy secretary of state, Wendy Sherman, meets Pakistan's foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in Islamabad.

Biden administration delivers brusque message to Pakistan

With relations frosty over Taliban victory and Pakistani repression, deputy secretary of state visits for ‘specific and narrow purpose’

A senior US official visiting Islamabad has made clear to Pakistan that the Biden administration has downgraded the bilateral relationship.

On the eve of her arrival, the deputy secretary of state, Wendy Sherman, used a public event in Mumbai to lay out in blunt terms the new parameters of US-Pakistan relations, stressing there would be no equivalence with Washington’s deepening ties to India.

The Islamabad trip was for “a very specific and narrow purpose”, Sherman said, to talk about Afghanistan and the Taliban.

“We don’t see ourselves building a broad relationship with Pakistan, and we have no interest in returning to the days of hyphenated India-Pakistan,” she added. “That’s not where we are. That’s not where we’re going to be.”

Sherman’s reception in Pakistan the next day was stilted. Senior Pakistan government officials told the Guardian that there was diplomatic tension between the two countries that needed to be resolved and that prime minister Imran Khan was angry that he had still not received a phone call from Joe Biden.

However, Fawad Chaudhry, the information minister, said that the talks with Sherman had gone well. “I think she spoke very warmly in Pakistan and she has understood Pakistan’s point of view,” Chaudhry said.

Biden sets great store by his personal relations with world leaders, and in his speech marking the completion of the military withdrawal from Afghanistan on 31 August the president said the new emphasis would be on regional diplomacy. In that context, the decision not to call is intended to be an unambiguous signal of Washington’s displeasure with Khan’s attitude to Afghanistan.

Khan described the Taliban takeover as “breaking the chains of slavery”. The US wants Pakistan to maintain international solidarity in withholding recognition of the Taliban while pressing for women’s rights and other democratic principles.

The cold approach has come as a shock to Islamabad, which had been accustomed to Trump’s informal and personal relationship with Khan.

In a recent leaked memo, the foreign minister, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, urged the Pakistani embassy in Washington to get a call arranged between Biden and Khan.

“In spite of the existing situation in Afghanistan, and the key role played by Pakistan, it is unfortunate that the White House remains indifferent to the Pakistani leadership,” the letter said, blaming “the immature understanding of the White House staff”.

“You are thus expected to take adequate measures, ensuring that enough diplomatic steps are taken to guarantee the strategic relevance of Pakistan in all diplomatic forums.”

The foreign minister and the US state department insisted the letter was a fake but official sources said it was authentic.

Asked about the absence of a presidential phone call to Khan, the White House said it had nothing to add to non-committal remarks by the press secretary, Jen Psaki, in late September when she said she didn’t “have anything to predict at this point in time”.

Pakistan has been long accused of playing a double game in the fight against terrorism, on one hand being a supposed ally in the US “war on terror” while also supporting and sponsoring the Taliban, and allowing them to live and regroup on Pakistan soil.

Cyril Almeida, a columnist and analyst, said: “Since 9/11, the US has seen Pakistan through an Afghan prism. Now that Pakistan is perceived to have won another proxy war against a superpower in Afghanistan, the superpower appears to be in no mood to forgive or forget.”

The issue is urgent for Pakistan, which is anxious to get flows of humanitarian aid going across the border and forestall a complete collapse in Afghanistan which would lead to a huge, destabilising influx of refugees.

“Pakistan is desperate to move on from the past and let bygones be bygones and wants to broaden out its relationship and focus on geo-economics, but from Washington’s standpoint, Afghanistan is going to continue to dominate its interests in the region for the foreseeable future,” Elizabeth Threlkeld, the director of the South Asia programme at the Stimson Center, said.

Since the Taliban came into power in mid-August, Pakistan has been publicly talking about the future recognition of the Taliban government, which has close ties to Pakistan’s powerful military intelligence services, the ISI.

Last week, in an interview with the Turkish-state affiliated TRT World, Khan said the United States will “sooner or later” have to recognise the Taliban government in Afghanistan.

There is a fear among western countries and diplomats that Pakistan may recognise the Taliban new government and undermine international efforts to pressure the Taliban into making assurances about human rights, security and the freedoms of women. A report published in Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper, quoting the US sources, reported that the United States does not want Pakistan to recognise the Taliban regime before the rest of the international community.

Almeida said it has not helped that, since the collapse of the Afghan government and the takeover by the Taliban, Pakistan has been seen to be earnestly pleading the group’s case to the world as well as making it very public that it is playing a role in helping establish the new Taliban cabinet.

Zahid Hussain, the author of No-Win War: the Paradox of US-Pakistan Relations in Afghanistan’s Shadow, said that relations were at their lowest ebb. “There is lack of hope that the relations will get better, as the things are not moving towards rapprochement between both countries. Today, we don’t see the strategic relations between the US-Pakistan – it is only a transactional relation now,” he said.

In contrast to the Trump administration, the Biden administration has been more focused on promoting democracy and human rights globally and many believe that Biden will eventually press the Pakistan premier on the human rights abuses and censorship of the media that have become rampant in Pakistan .

A US state department report published in 2021 had a detailed and damning chapter on the human rights violations in Pakistan. The chapter portrayed a bleak situation in Pakistan in terms of issues such as human rights abuses, suppression of freedom of speech, marginalisation of women and minorities in Pakistan.

However, senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, a former committee head of human rights in the senate of Pakistan, said that while the US had been “silent for a long time when it involves democracy and human rights violation”, the Biden administration could play a crucial role in holding Khan’s administration to account.

“It can be damaging for Pakistan,” said Khokhar. “The current Khan regime is known for the suppression of free speech and democratic norms. We think Biden will go hard on Pakistan.”

US foreign policy
South and central Asia
Afghanistan

The Biden administration’s two-track Pakistan policy misses the mark

Subscribe to the center for middle east policy newsletter, madiha afzal madiha afzal fellow - foreign policy , center for middle east policy , strobe talbott center for security, strategy, and technology @madihaafzal.

March 2, 2023

The U.S.-Pakistan relationship has weathered several bumps in the road over the past two years, including, most prominently, the fallout from the Afghanistan withdrawal and the Taliban takeover. The Biden administration has now settled on a bureaucratic division of labor in its policy toward Pakistan: a lack of engagement from the White House; robust, well-defined engagement from the State Department; and a continuation of long-standing military and defense ties. The new equilibrium is different from the past: President Joe Biden is the only U.S. president in recent memory not to have engaged with a Pakistani prime minister (neither Imran Khan nor his successor, Shehbaz Sharif). The bilateral relationship is also notably no longer centered solely around America’s interests in Afghanistan, as it was prior to August 2021: there is an effort by both sides to broaden its base.

Unfortunately, the overall relationship is weak at best. Here are the factors that have shaped the relationship over the last two years:

The Afghanistan factor

At the beginning of the Biden administration, Pakistan recognized the need to redefine the bilateral relationship, until then focused on Afghanistan, as the U.S. withdrawal from that country drew close. Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government pitched the need for a comprehensive relationship with the United States, one based on “geo-economics” — Pakistan’s catch-all for trade, investment, and connectivity — as opposed to a relationship focused on security concerns. The Biden administration wasn’t responsive, and the relationship got off to a cold start. At the time, the United States was focused on Afghanistan and the need for Pakistan to exercise pressure on the Taliban to push it toward an intra-Afghan peace. Then, as the Taliban undertook a systematic military takeover of Afghanistan while the United States withdrew, the relationship cooled further . In the months afterward, although Pakistan helped in evacuations from Kabul and in taking in Afghan refugees, the ignominy of the withdrawal — that the war ended with a clear Taliban victory and in view of Pakistan’s close relationship with the Taliban — pushed relations to a relative low point .

No phone call

Biden has not called a Pakistani prime minister in his more than two years in office. Biden neither mentioned Pakistan during the withdrawal from Afghanistan, nor showed any interest in engaging with the country at that point. The lack of a phone call drew considerable attention in Pakistan during Biden’s first year in office, and was ostensibly one of the reasons Khan declined the administration’s invitation to attend the first Summit for Democracy in December 2021. Even Pakistan’s catastrophic summer flooding in 2022, which elicited a robust U.S. government response, did not prompt a Biden call. Yet in October 2022, seemingly out of the blue, Biden mentioned Pakistan in strongly negative terms at a Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee reception, describing it as “what I think is maybe one of the most dangerous nations in the world: Pakistan. Nuclear weapons without any cohesion.” This statement did not go over well in Pakistan, prompting a bit of a walk back from the administration, though Biden may have really meant what he said .

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Initially, the complete lack of White House engagement with Pakistan was somewhat of a puzzle. Now though, it seems it’s White House policy — reflecting the fact that Pakistan is not a priority. For Biden, it might draw from a desire to put Afghanistan behind him — and with it, its neighbor. Throughout Biden’s many years of watching the Afghanistan war from the Senate and then as vice president, Pakistan’s relationship with the Taliban had always been a source of tension.

Pakistani politics

In the spring of 2022, America was drawn into Pakistan’s domestic politics in a sudden, unfavorable manner: Khan blamed his ouster via a vote of no confidence on a U.S. “regime change” conspiracy, without evidence — a narrative that stuck among his supporters. In recent months, Khan has stepped back from the U.S. conspiracy narrative and has more directly blamed the Pakistani military for the fall of his government — the actual story. Still, the narrative complicated the U.S. relationship with Pakistan for months in 2022, as Khan’s supporters considered any engagement between the United States and the new government in Islamabad to be confirmation of the conspiracy.

Ties with State, and broadening the relationship

Although the White House remained silent, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Khan’s foreign minister, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, spoke several times and met in New York in September 2021. Spring 2022 began a period of robust engagement from the State Department, a mini reset of sorts that has focused on expanding the relationship. In March 2022, the United States and Pakistan launched a year-long campaign marking 75 years of relations. In April, the new U.S. ambassador to Pakistan, Donald Blome, was sworn in. In May, Pakistan’s new foreign minister, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, met Blinken in New York. The U.S. special representative for Commercial and Business Affairs, Dilawar Syed, visited Pakistan in July to “strengthen the economic partnership and bilateral trade” between both countries. Also in July, the two governments launched a health dialogue . Soon after Pakistan’s flooding disaster hit in August, U.S. Agency for International Development Administrator Samantha Power visited the country, documenting both the catastrophe as well as U.S. relief assistance; the United States has announced more than $200 million in flood assistance. Bhutto Zardari and Blinken met again in September when the 75th anniversary of U.S.-Pakistan relations was officially celebrated at the State Department. The relationship between the two counterparts appears constructive; it has focused on relief and recovery after Pakistan’s calamitous summer of flooding and increasing cooperation on economic matters.

Engagement and diplomacy continue apace on other fronts: State Department Counselor Derek Chollet and a delegation of senior U.S. government officials visited Pakistan in February 2023 in support of the U.S.-Pakistan relationship . The Pakistani commerce minister visited Washington the same month to hold a meeting under the U.S.-Pakistan Trade and Investment Framework — held after seven years — with United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai. Also in February, a U.S. congressional delegation led by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer visited Pakistan to discuss the “broad-based partnership that includes trade, investment, regional security, and flood recovery efforts.” Pakistan has also been the single largest recipient of COVID vaccines from the United States since 2021.

Defense and military ties

The military leadership in Pakistan had a major transition last fall, with the chief of army staff, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, leaving his post after six years (following an extension). He visited Washington in October before his term ended and met Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. And the commander of United States Central Command, General Michael Kurilla, traveled to Pakistan to reaffirm security ties after the new chief of army staff, General Asim Munir, was sworn in.

The long-standing defense and security relationship continues (though it is no longer the entirety of the bilateral relationship). In September, the U.S. government notified Congress of a proposed $450 million foreign military sale to maintain Pakistan’s fleet of F-16 fighter jets. The security relationship also includes a key focus on counterterrorism and intelligence that presumably encompasses an over-the-horizon arrangement on Afghanistan — but that specific aspect remains shrouded in secrecy. CIA Director Bill Burns visited Pakistan twice in 2021: once in an unannounced visit in April and then again after the withdrawal in September.

What limits the relationship

Pakistan is in a very different place than when its government pitched a geo-economic reset in early 2021. It is now mired in a political and economic crisis, veering perilously close to default. For the time being, its spiraling economic situation and domestic problems limit its attractiveness as a U.S. partner.

Distrust born out of the last four decades of the U.S.-Pakistan-Afghanistan triangle will take time to overcome, despite both sides’ attempts in the last year at broadening the relationship. And while Afghanistan no longer defines the U.S. relationship with Pakistan, the Biden administration’s approach to its other neighbors, China and India, does restrict it. The administration’s intense competition with China, Pakistan’s long-standing ally; its growing partnership with India, Pakistan’s foe; and its focus on the Indo-Pacific (which excludes Pakistan) has led to a priority shift away from Pakistan. Pakistan has long said it doesn’t want its relationships with the United States and China to be seen as zero-sum, and the United States has acknowledged that it doesn’t see its relationships with India and Pakistan as zero-sum. Yet, the American approach to these two Pakistani neighbors does seem to, at this point, impose constraints on the bounds of the U.S.-Pakistan relationship.

This need not be the case: As I have long argued , Pakistan, the fifth-largest country in the world and a nuclear-armed nation, ought to be seen by the United States on its own terms and not through the prism of its neighbors. A cold shoulder risks pushing Pakistan further toward China — which is neither an inevitable nor desirable outcome for the United States. What’s more, Pakistan’s multiple crises — political instability, economic malaise, and rising insecurity — warrant greater American engagement, not less, and certainly more than the current administration’s policy of fractured engagement from the United States.

Richard Nixon

Statement on the president's visit to pakistan..

IT IS A GREAT PLEASURE for me to visit Pakistan, where I always have found a warm welcome from a great and friendly people. It is a special pleasure for me to return on this, my sixth visit, but my first as President.

This will be a working visit, during which I look forward to discussing many matters of mutual interest with Pakistan's leaders. At the outset, however, there are several points I would like to emphasize.

First, I want to convey the sense of friendship and respect that the people of my country feel for the people of Pakistan and that my Government feels for the Government of Pakistan. This is a feeling that has existed between our countries for many years and under a variety of circumstances. There have been good times and there have been some difficult times. There have been times when we have not understood each other as well as we might and there have been other times when we have worked very closely together. But through all of these experiences, the basic feeling of friendship and respect has not been lost. I come here today to re-express that feeling--and to reaffirm the stable and cordial relationship between our nations which that feeling makes possible.

Second, a stable and cordial relationship must be built on a clear understanding by each of our governments of the interests and viewpoints of the other, and of the way in which the other sees important problems. I look forward, on this visit, to our sharing in candor our respective assessments of our national interests and informing each other of our views on a wide variety of subjects.

Third, I want to stress the continuing interest of the United States in the progress of Pakistan and all of Asia. Just as the historic trip to the moon has opened a new era in human history, so the dramatic changes taking place in this part of the world will have an enormous impact on men everywhere. The United States will continue to give strong encouragement to Asian development.

Fourth, I wish to communicate my Government's conviction that Asian hands must shape the Asian future. This is true, for example, with respect to economic aid, for it must be related to the total pattern of a nation's life. It must support the unique aspirations of each people. Its purpose is to encourage self-reliance, not dependence. And this it has done in Pakistan.

Fifth, I want to say that we share your concern for the well-being of the great numbers of individuals who form the backbone of our societies. Governments are at their best when they look not just to the overall well-being of the nation but to the opportunity of individual men, women, and children. That is where the strength of a nation lies.

Finally, it is our hope that Asians will work more closely with each other in a variety of constructive bilateral and regional projects. The Regional Cooperation for Development organization in which Pakistan participates with Iran and Turkey is one encouraging example of such activity.

I mention all these points because I believe these policies represent the best way of bringing peace and progress to Asia. I am confident that our talks here in Lahore will advance that common goal.

Note: The statement was released at Lahore, Pakistan.

Richard Nixon, Statement on the President's Visit to Pakistan. Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/239843

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US-Pakistan Relations

Relations between the U.S and Pakistan began prior to Pakistan’s independence, as noted when the United States Secretary of State, George Marshall, sent a message to Pakistan’s founder, Mohammad Ali Jinnah, extending best wishes on behalf of the United States. The message was mentioned in Jinnah’s address to the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan in 1947.

The message which was read out loud by Jinnah stated: “On the occasion of of the first meeting of the Constituent Assembly for Pakistan, I extend to you and to the members of the Assembly, the best wishes of the Government and the people of the United States for the successful conclusion of the great work you are about to undertake.”

In 1950, the U.S. invited Pakistan’s first Prime Minister, Liaquat Ali Khan, on an official state visit, in which the Prime Minister met U.S. President Harry Truman. Having the choice to remain neutral during the Cold War, Pakistan opted to side with the U.S., allying against the spread of communism. This alliance cemented future ties and military relations between the two nations. In 1954, U.S. and Pakistan signed a Mutual Defense Assistance Agreement, strengthening military ties between the two nations. Thus, the treaty permitted Pakistan military officers to be trained in the United States.

In 1959, U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower was the first U.S. leader to visit Pakistan. The people of Pakistan received him warmly. During the 1950s and the 1960s, the sentiment of the people of Pakistan toward the U.S. was high.

In 1970, the first democratic elections in Pakistan were held, which resulted in Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, head of the socialist Pakistan People’s Party, becoming President in December 1971. During his tenure, Pakistan played a critical role in strengthening relations between the U.S. and China resulting in U.S. President Richard Nixon’s visit to China. Although Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto maintained a close relationship with President Nixon, ties between Pakistan and the United States deteriorated under President Jimmy Carter.

In 1978, Pakistan General Zia-ul-Haq, in a coup d’état, took over Pakistan. When Ronald Reagan became President of the United States, the economic and military ties strengthened to fight the common enemy of communism in the Cold War.

In 1988, Benazir Bhutto was elected, becoming the first female prime minister of Pakistan. Although Pakistan, during Prime Minister Bhutto’s time in office, was under democratic rule between 1988 and 1999, relations between the U.S. and Pakistan suffered setbacks. Pakistan was imposed with economic sanctions, which hindered the development of democracy.

In 1999, General Pervez Musharraf imposed military rule. The world changed with the tragedy of September 11, 2001. Since that awful day, Democrats and Republicans in Washington have forged strong ties to combat terrorism and strengthen Pakistani civil society and good governance.

President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy with the President of Pakistan, Muhammad Ayub Khan at Quonset Point Naval Air Station

President Ronald Reagan with the Pakistani Prime Minister Mohammed Khan Junejo during a visit to the White House

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker (R-Tennessee), Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Senator Ben Cardin (D-Maryland) and Senator Bob Menendez (D-New Jersey)

Pakistani-American Diaspora

Pakistani-Americans have a higher household income compared to the average American. Pakistanis are known to have fared better in the U.S. than anywhere else in the world by attaining higher levels of education and being gainfully employed, all while upholding a sense of culture and heritage.

As early as the first days of the United States, Muslims from South Asia immigrated to the United States contributing to its economy by working in various fields such as agriculture and mining. In 1946, after the signing of the Luce-Celler Act, over 2,500 Pakistani immigrants acquired U.S. citizenship through naturalization. According to the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, most of these Pakistanis were students who had just graduated from American universities. The latest U.S. Census, from 2010, estimated that there are over 360,000 Pakistani-Americans living in the U.S.

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The leaders of Iran and Pakistan vow to boost trade in a meeting seeking to mend a diplomatic rift

Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi met Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday soon after arriving in the capital, Islamabad, for a three-day visit, officials said.

In this photo released by Prime Minister Office, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, left, walks with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during a welcome ceremony in the prime minister house in Islamabad, Pakistan, Monday, April 22, 2024. (Prime Minister Office via AP)

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In this photo released by Prime Minister Office, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, left, greets to Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi upon his arrival in the prime minister house in Islamabad, Pakistan, Monday, April 22, 2024. (Prime Minister Office via AP)

In this photo released by Prime Minister Office, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, right, with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, left, prays after planting a tree in the prime minister house in Islamabad, Pakistan, Monday, April 22, 2024. (Prime Minister Office via AP)

In this photo released by Press Information Department, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, left, shakes hand with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif prior to their meeting at prime minister house in Islamabad, Pakistan, Monday, April 22, 2024. Iranian and Pakistani leaders vowed to strengthen economic and security cooperation in a meeting on Monday, as the two countries seek to smooth over a diplomatic rift. (Press Information Department via AP)

In this photo released by Press Information Department, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, second left, holds official talks with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, second right, at prime minister house in Islamabad, Pakistan, Monday, April 22, 2024. Iranian and Pakistani leaders vowed to strengthen economic and security cooperation in a meeting on Monday, as the two countries seek to smooth over a diplomatic rift. (Press Information Department via AP)

In this photo released by Press Information Department, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, second left back, with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, right back, witness a signing of MoUs of cooperation in different fields between Iran and Pakistan at prime minister house in Islamabad, Pakistan, Monday, April 22, 2024. Iranian and Pakistani leaders vowed to strengthen economic and security cooperation in a meeting on Monday, as the two countries seek to smooth over a diplomatic rift. (Press Information Department via AP)

In this photo released by Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi gets down from plane upon his arrival in Islamabad, Pakistan, Monday, April 22, 2024. Raisi arrived in Islamabad on a three-day visit on Monday, during which he will discuss a range of issues with authorities in Pakistan’s capital, officials said. (Ministry of Foreign Affairs via AP)

In this photo released by Press Information Department, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, left, holds a meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Asif Ali Zardari, right, at the President house in Islamabad, Pakistan, Monday, April 22, 2024. Iranian and Pakistani leaders vowed to strengthen economic and security cooperation in a meeting on Monday, as the two countries seek to smooth over a diplomatic rift. (Press Information Department via AP)

ISLAMABAD (AP) — The leaders of Iran and Pakistan agreed to strengthen economic and security cooperation in a meeting on Monday that sought to smooth over a diplomatic rift.

Ties were strained between the neighbors in January when each carried out strikes in the other’s territory , targeting militants accused of attacking security forces.

Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi met with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other officials on his three-day visit. Authorities deployed hundreds of additional police and paramilitary forces for security.

Pakistan has witnessed a surge in militant violence in recent months, mostly blamed on Pakistani Taliban and insurgents targeting security forces in Pakistan and neighboring Iran.

According to a statement, the two leaders discussed a range of bilateral issues and vowed to cooperate to fight terrorism. They reiterated their condemnations of Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza.

Sharif praised Iran’s “strong stand on the issue of Palestine” and said “Pakistan is also with the Palestinians.”

Raisi said the killings by Israel in Gaza were being committed with the support of the United States and other Western countries. He criticized international organizations, including the United Nations, saying, “They say they support human rights, but they proved that they are inefficient.”

FILE - International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi waits to meet Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida shakes hands at the prime minister's office in Tokyo Thursday, March 14, 2024. The head of the United Nations' nuclear watchdog will travel to Iran next week as Tehran's nuclear program enriches uranium a step away from weapons-grade levels and international oversight of the program remains limited, officials said Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, Pool, File)

The visit comes after Iran’s unprecedented direct strikes on Israel and an apparent Israeli response. Pakistan is among the countries that have no diplomatic relations with Israel because of the issue of Palestinian statehood.

Raisi also vowed to boost what he called “unacceptably” meager bilateral trade with Pakistan and called for setting up more border markets. Pakistan and Iran set up the first such border market in southwestern Pakistan’s Baluchistan province last year, promising five more under a 2012 agreement.

The two leaders signed eight cooperation agreements, according to Sharif’s office.

Authorities said the two sides also discussed a multi-billion gas pipeline project, on hold since 2014. The project — opposed by Washington as a violation of sanctions imposed on Tehran over its nuclear program — launched in 2013 to supply Iranian natural gas to energy-starved Pakistan.

Iran says it had already completed the pipeline on its side of the border after investing $2 billion. Pakistan was supposed to finish construction on its territory by the end of 2014 but work stalled, leading to tensions between the nations.

The Iranian president later met with his Pakistani counterpart Asif Ali Zardari, who helped launch the pipeline project after traveling to Iran in 2013.

On Monday night, Pakistan’s powerful army chief Gen. Asim Munir met with the Iranian president, the military said in a statement. It said their discussion focused on “matters of mutual interest, notably regional peace, stability and border security.”

The statement said Munir described the Pakistan-Iran border as “the border of peace and friendship” but emphasized the need for improved coordination there “to prevent terrorists from jeopardizing the longstanding brotherly relations.”

It quoted Raisi as saying that by fostering cooperation between the militaries, Iran and Pakistan “can attain peace and stability for both nations and the region.”

Raisi also met with Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. The two discussed regional and global developments and “affirmed commitment to peace and constructive dialogue for resolving regional challenges.”

Raisi is accompanied by his spouse and a high-level delegation. He plans to visit Karachi, Pakistan’s biggest city, and Lahore, where he will meet with the country’s recently elected first female chief minister, Maryam Nawaz Sharif.

This version corrects the first name of the Pakistani president to Asif.

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WASHINGTON: The United States has advised the importance of caution about the risk of sanctions for those considering trade agreements with Iran.

The spokesperson of the US Department of State in response to inquiries about Pakistan-Iran trade agreements, emphasized that the United States has been Pakistan’s largest export market and one of its biggest investors.

“We have also been a leading investor in Pakistan for the past 20 years. Pakistan’s economic success is in both of our interest, and we look forward to continuing our partnership,” he said.

However, he advised caution to those considering trade deals with Iran, citing the potential threat of sanctions.

In the statement, the spokesperson cautioned against doing business with Tehran, which did not specifically mention Pakistan.

President Raisi’s three-day visit to Pakistan and scores of bilateral agreements have been signed inked by the two countries.

Pakistan and Iran reaffirmed their commitment to bolster bilateral relations across various sectors, aiming to elevate their trade volume to $10 billion. The consensus was reached during high-level delegation talks held in Islamabad.

Will the PML-N led govt be able to steer Pakistan out of economic crisis?

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Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi recent visit to Pakistan is a significant step in strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries. The main goal of President Raisi visit to Pakistan is to strengthen the leaders of the two countries’ bilateral cooperation in the areas of commerce, connectivity, energy, and agribusiness. The leaders of both sides have been alerted to the need to expand their bilateral contact in multiple spheres by signing multiple Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) during this three-day visit. The agreement to construct the Rimdan-Gabd Joint Free-Special Zone was signed during this visit by the advisor to the president and secretary of Iran’s Supreme Council of Free Trade Industrial and Special Economic Zones, as well as the secretary of Pakistan’s Secretary Board of Investment. The Iranian Ministry of Road and Urban Development and the Pakistani Ministry of Science and Technology have also signed the Memorandum of Understanding on the Mutual Recognition of the Standards of Pakistan and Iran. To investigate new possibilities for bilateral collaboration, other ministries from both governments have signed a number of other Memorandums of Understanding. Eight deals spanning a wide range of topics, including trade, research, technology, agriculture, health, culture, and judicial affairs, have been reached on the first day of the visit. Given the evolving regional and global world order and the numerous non-traditional dangers to the international system, such terrorism, this visit is more significant for both governments. The state leaders of Iran and Pakistan have demonstrated their willingness to continue actively tackling the problems of terrorism and organized crime, despite having a notable track record of counterterrorism measures. By making their respective business communities more integrated, Iran and Pakistan may be able to increase the volume of trade they now engage in. This might be accomplished by focusing on the main security issues. Thus, developing a cooperative, all-encompassing approach to address the threat posed by non-state actors will ensure the growth of trade linkages between the two-sided business groups. By strengthening the already-existing societal linkages between Pakistan and Iran on a cultural and religious level, it will further improve the likelihood of foreign direct investment in both governments.

One plausible explanation for the two-sided leaders’ flourishing trading links could be the enhanced interpersonal relationships in the areas directly adjacent to their shared borders. In order to protect their geographical linkages from misinterpretation on a strategic, political, and diplomatic level, the formal state authorities of both states will be able to handle the shared security challenges through a formal consensus-based framework. observing the continuous, multifaceted political dialogue and mutual diplomatic assistance between the two states. One element that might encourage the leaders of Tehran, Islamabad, and Beijing to actively participate in and support China’s developing international trade strategies is the growing commercial ties between these three states. The Chinese influence on Pakistan’s and Iran’s current trade plans is a significant factor in enabling Islamabad and Tehran to take advantage of their marine potential without inciting serious mistrust toward one another, particularly when it comes to port infrastructure. Pakistan’s involvement in establishing a geographical link between Iran and China for business purposes also stems from Islamabad’s growing dependence on the geo-economic aspects of the global economy. With China and Iran as neighbors, Pakistan’s trade relations are growing, which may help Islamabad solidify its standing in the BRICS framework, a global organization that aims to include members from other parts of the world.

The leaders of Iran and Pakistan could not overlook the challenges facing the Muslim world, particularly the concerns of Palestine and Kashmir, which call for the active involvement of Islamic nations, in addition to paying particular attention to the changing power dynamics of the global geoeconomic scene. Pakistan and Iran could effectively contribute to this non-traditional approach by taking a more practical and less theoretical stance in light of the highly secure climate in which the Muslim world finds itself. The previously stated features of the bilateral relations between Iran and Pakistan make it easy to conclude that the leaders of both countries remain dedicated to maintaining their bilateral cooperation in their respective foreign policy models, even in the face of possible obstacles to their shared goal of enhanced cooperation.

The recent visit will considerably advance Pakistan-Iran cooperation to the targeted levels, as demonstrated by the limited history of multileveled collaboration between the two states and the unmistakable presence of cultural, historical, and religious links in their bilateral exchanges. By examining world politics beyond their predetermined conceptions of international systems, the leaders of both states may find it easier to change the customary patterns of their foreign relations if state-level political communication between them has improved.

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Reporting by Charlotte Greenfield in Islamabad and Akanksha Khushi in Bengaluru; Editing by William Mallard

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As Pakistan’s Imran Khan fought to retain his post in the face of mounting pressure this month, the now-former prime minister pointed the finger at the United States to explain his political downfall.

Khan accused Washington of conspiring with the Pakistani political opposition to remove him from office, saying US President Joe Biden’s administration was upset over his “independent” approach to foreign policy and a visit to Moscow that coincided with the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

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“This narrative is not novel. It is a well-rehearsed one in Pakistani public discourse,” Ayesha Jalal, a history professor at Tufts University in the US, told Al Jazeera. “It’s the kind of claim you make when you’re in trouble domestically. We call it, seeing your troubles as gifts from abroad.”

But while experts say that Khan’s allegations of a foreign plot against him are unproven and largely politically motivated, they nevertheless highlight longstanding tensions in the US-Pakistan relationship that the premier’s successor, Shehbaz Sharif , will have to address.

“I’m sure the new prime minister and his staff and the military top brass will be very keen to repair relations,” said Jalal, referring to the effect of Khan’s allegations. “I think that would be very much on top of the agenda.”

‘Longstanding cooperation’

Sharif, of the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) party, was sworn in on Monday after Khan lost a no-confidence vote in the Pakistani parliament, where he had failed to retain a majority amid criticism over a worsening economic crisis and allegations of mismanagement .

Sharif has pledged to rebuild the economy and “to keep building relationships with other countries on the basis of mutual respect, equality & peace”, he said in a tweet.

On Wednesday evening, Secretary of State Antony Blinken congratulated Sharif for becoming Pakistan’s prime minister and said Washington looked forward to continuing its “longstanding cooperation with Pakistan’s government”.

“The United States views a strong, prosperous, and democratic Pakistan as essential for the interests of both of our countries,” Blinken said in a statement.

We also look forward to keep building relationships with other countries on the basis of mutual respect, equality & peace. — Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) April 11, 2022

But the perception in Pakistan has been that the Biden administration, which took office in January of last year, does not see the country as a priority amid other areas of focus, namely US competition with China and more recently, the war in Ukraine.

Political analysts have described US-Pakistan ties over the past decades as “transactional”, with Washington seeking Islamabad’s support on regional security matters – most prominently, Afghanistan – in exchange for financial assistance. But the relationship has not always been easy.

American officials have accused their Pakistani counterparts of not doing enough to tackle “terrorism” and of harbouring armed groups, including the Taliban. Pakistan at times has been equally angered, denouncing US drone attacks and saying the country had paid “a very high price” for backing the US in Afghanistan.

Madiha Afzal, a fellow in the foreign policy programme at the Brookings Institution in Washington, DC, said the relationship hit a low point in 2018, before Khan took office, when then-President Donald Trump cut security assistance to Pakistan.

But “a very public reset” took place the following year when Khan met Trump at the White House, she said. By that point, Pakistan was playing an important role in talks between the Trump administration and the Taliban to reach an agreement to end the war in Afghanistan.

“Towards the end of 2020, once President Biden was elected and the withdrawal from Afghanistan was imminent, Pakistan pitched a geo-economics-based relationship with the US,” Afzal told Al Jazeera, explaining that Khan had hoped Washington would begin viewing Islamabad beyond the lens of Afghanistan alone.

In an interview with the New York Times published in June of last year, Khan said he wanted Pakistan to have a “civilised” and “even-handed” relationship with the US after the Afghanistan withdrawal, which was completed at the end of August. That meant deepening economic opportunities, among other things.

“You know, unfortunately, the relationship was a bit lopsided during this War on Terror,” Khan told the newspaper. “It was a lopsided relationship because [the] US felt that they were giving aid to Pakistan, they felt that Pakistan then had to do US’s bidding.”

But Afzal said the Biden administration so far has not taken Pakistan up on its pitch. “The US-Pakistan relationship for the last 14, 15 months has now been characterised by a cold shoulder by the Biden administration to the Khan government,” she said, pointing to swirling questions over why Biden did not call Khan after moving into the White House as one example.

“Now that [the US has] left Afghanistan, there’s very little left to be interested in, other than of course the usual issues of non-proliferation and terrorism and drugs,” added Jalal. “ India is very much on the American mind rather than Pakistan.”

Perception of balance

Afzal said it now will be interesting to see how the US approaches Pakistan under Sharif’s leadership. Biden was US vice president when Sharif’s older brother, Nawaz, a three-time prime minister, held the post, “so the Biden administration is familiar with the Sharif family”.

But she explained that Washington’s relationship with Pakistan historically has focused on the country’s powerful military , which had been on “the same page” with Khan is his foreign policy approach.

“[Khan] was saying he wanted an independent foreign policy, he wanted good relationships with all counties – that is the foreign policy approach both of the civilian government and the military … [But] in the last few months it ended up looking different because of visits to China and Russia, whereas there hasn’t been a relationship really with the White House,” Afzal said.

“[The military] does want a positive relationship with the US and looking like Pakistan is not properly balancing its relationships with the US and with China, is something the military does not like.”

For her part, Jalal said that while she believed US-Pakistan ties will return “to the normal situation”, it would be a mistake to think that Islamabad would not continue to pursue relations with Moscow as it seeks to mend things with Washington.

“This [balance] is not an Imran Khan policy; it’s a state policy,” she said. “So, I think it’s important to understand that.”

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FirstUp: Iranian president's visit to Pakistan, US-Philippines to conduct military exercises, and other news today

Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi will begin his three-day visit to Pakistan as the nations look to solidify relations. Amid rising tensions in the South China Sea, US and the Philippines will kick off their “Balikatan” military exercises. Here’s a look at these and other big developments to watch today

It is going to be an action-packed Monday.

In bordering Pakistan, Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi is expected to touch down on 22 April, marking the beginning of his three-day visit to the country. The two nations’ relations have been especially rocky in the past few weeks.

In India’s extended neighbourhood, the United States and the Philippines will begin the weeks-long “Balikatan” military exercises. This will be the first time that the drills happen beyond Philippine territorial waters.

In Israel, and the world over, Jews will begin the Passover celebrations.

Big headlines are expected to come in from the West. In the US, a New York court will review the adequacy of a $175 million bond that former President Donald Trump posted, while in the UK, the Parliament will debate on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s controversial plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda for processing.

There’s a lot going on on the 2024 Lok Sabha election front, too. Several regions in Manipur are all set for re-polling on Monday after disruptions in the first phase on April 19. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will be busy canvassing in Kerala on Monday. Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi’s visit to Pakistan

Starting Monday, Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi will embark on a significant three-day visit to Pakistan amidst a period of cooling tensions. The visit, confirmed by Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, aims to fortify the two nations’ relations, which have been strained following tit-for-tat missile strikes in January. This diplomatic engagement follows Iran’s cautious stance on regional conflicts, particularly after recent escalations involving Israel.

During his visit, President Raisi is scheduled to meet Pakistan’s top leaders including the President, the Prime Minister, and key legislative officials. These meetings are crucial as both countries navigate their diplomatic paths in a volatile regional context. The discussions are likely to focus on cooperation in various sectors and mutual interests that promote peace and stability in the region.

US-Philippines to begin “Balikatan” military exercises

This week marks the beginning of the “Balikatan” military exercises between the United States and the Philippines, set against a backdrop of increasing regional tensions. Starting April 22, these drills will involve 16,700 troops and span several weeks, focusing on a range of defensive strategies including maritime security and air defence. This year’s exercises are particularly notable for extending beyond Philippine territorial waters for the first time.

The strategic importance of these drills is underscored by recent aggressive manoeuvres by China in the South China Sea and near Taiwan. The exercises aim to enhance the interoperability of the two forces, preparing them for potential regional conflicts. This military collaboration comes as the Philippines shifts its focus towards bolstering its external defence capabilities in response to regional security threats.

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Passover, a pivotal celebration in Jewish tradition, commences on the evening of April 22. This festival, lasting until April 30, commemorates the Biblical story of the Israelites’ deliverance from slavery in Egypt. The week-long observance involves various rituals, among them the seder, where families gather to recount the Exodus story through readings, prayers, and symbolic foods.

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A New York court is set to review the adequacy of a $175 million bond former President Donald Trump posted as part of an appeal against a $454 million fraud judgment. The hearing, slated for Monday, stems from the state attorney general’s contention that the bond is insufficient and lacks proper financial backing, raising questions about the potential consequences for Trump’s assets.

This hearing is pivotal as it will determine whether the bond stands, affecting Trump’s ability to appeal the judgment. The outcome could have significant implications for his financial status and ongoing legal battles.

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The government has expressed a strong desire to move forward without further delay. The outcome of this debate will significantly influence the UK’s approach to handling asylum seekers and its international relationships concerning migration policies.

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In response to the electoral disturbances reported on April 19, the Election Commission of India has mandated re-polling at certain booths in Manipur’s inner Lok Sabha seat. Scheduled for April 22, this re-polling comes after incidents of violence and destruction of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).

The repolling will affect locations like Moirangkampu Sajeb and Thongam Leikai in the Khurai constituency, four stations in Kshetrigao, one in Thongju in the Imphal East district, and three in Uripok and one in Konthoujam in the Imphal West district.

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