WASHINGTON: A strategic pivot toward geo-economics is redefining the relationship between Pakistan and the United States, with both nations pledging to prioritize long-term economic cooperation over traditional security-focused ties.
The shift was underscored on Tuesday during a high-profile dinner at Pakistan House in Washington, D.C., where Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Sheikh addressed a delegation of 16 Pakistani business leaders representing nine major companies. The group is currently in the U.S. under the *Select USA* program, a federal initiative designed to attract foreign direct investment.
“The new phase of Pakistan-US relations will be based on economic ties and long-term economic cooperation,” Ambassador Sheikh declared to the assembled crowd of American officials and Pakistani entrepreneurs.
He emphasized that while the bilateral relationship has historically faced “ups and downs,” the current era demands a focus on Pakistan’s geographical and strategic advantages. “The axis of Pakistan’s national security policy is geo-economics,” Sheikh stated, urging local businesses to leverage these opportunities to deepen trade links.
Paul Kapoor, a senior official present at the event, reinforced the message, noting that economic relations now hold a key role alongside security. “The current period is very important for these relations,” Kapoor said, calling for both nations to fully utilize available economic opportunities as equal partners.
US Consul General Charles Goodman, who has spent the last eight months actively promoting trade in Pakistan, hailed the delegation’s visit as a “clear example of the growing economic cooperation” between the two countries. Goodman thanked the embassy for hosting the event and highlighted how the *Select USA* program provides a direct pathway for Pakistani firms to access the American market.
The dinner, which brought together prominent figures from both the public and private sectors, signals a concerted effort to move the bilateral agenda from security-centric dialogues to a robust, investment-driven partnership.
