Staff Reporter
The United States is focusing on expanding its humanitarian, political and commercial cooperation with Islamabad amid and post Covid19 pandemic to the mutual benefits of both the peoples and the countries, said the U.S. Charge d’ Affaires to Pakistan Ambassador Paul W. Jones.
Speaking at the Policy Dialogue Series on ‘Pakistan-United States Cooperation amid COVID19’ organized by the Sustainable Development Policy Institutes (SDPI) , the ambassador said coronavirus has hit hard the US and still it is impacting huge number of people. Pakistan is also facing a grave crisis due to the pandemic.
The US wants Pakistan to succeed in its fight against the virus.
Earlier setting the tone as moderator Dr. Abid Qayyum Suleri, Executive Director of SDPI drew some similarities between the pandemic situation of the U.S and Pakistan. He said that both the countries have devised appropriate strategies and policies to keep a fine balance between economy and health. He raised certain questions for ambassador Jones including: the U.S.-Pakistan cooperation amid coronavirus pandemic, the potential U.S. support to Pakistan’s plea for debt rescheduling and impact of Covid on Afghan peace process.
Responding to these questions, Ambassador Jones said the United States is closely connected to Pakistani leadership since the pandemic broke. President Donald Trump has spoken to Prime Minister Imran Khan and expressed the support for Pakistan’s actions to fight against the pandemic. The ambassador said the U.S. leadership believes that expansion in commercial and political relations between the two countries should emerge stronger amid current situation. He also talked about the issue of debt rescheduling request by Pakistan, and support of USA.
