Ambassador to the United States Rizwan Saeed Sheikh has said Pakistan has achieved an unprecedented level of international recognition following its victory in a brief but intense conflict with India, which erupted after New Delhi attacked Pakistan in May 2025.
Speaking about Pakistan’s global role, Sheikh said the country has consistently acted responsibly in matters of international security and continues to be viewed as an important stakeholder on the world stage.
Read more: Watch: Pakistani Woman’s Praise Leaves NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani Emotional
The ambassador noted a marked improvement in Pakistan–US relations over the past year, describing the progress as both significant and encouraging. He credited Pakistan’s leadership and sustained diplomatic efforts for strengthening the country’s international standing.
“Pakistan’s diplomatic engagement in the United States is progressing well and will continue to grow stronger in the coming days,” he said, expressing optimism for further improvement in bilateral ties as the new year begins.
Pakistan and India went to war in May after India launched what Islamabad termed an unprovoked attack, following the killing of tourists in IIOJK. India claimed the attackers were Pakistani nationals, an allegation Pakistan has denied while calling for a neutral investigation. The 87-hour conflict ended on May 10 with a US-brokered ceasefire.
Sheikh said the developments of the past year had instilled renewed confidence and pride among overseas Pakistanis, many of whom now feel a stronger sense of belonging and faith in Pakistan’s global position.
He added that Pakistan had demonstrated its ability to stand firm in a sensitive region, noting that the country’s media and diplomatic corps worked in close coordination to safeguard national interests during difficult times.
Highlighting foreign relations, the ambassador said regular engagement between Pakistan’s top leadership and their US counterparts had helped improve bilateral ties. He described Pakistan–US cooperation as increasingly visible and essential in the current global environment.
Sheikh said economic engagement with the current US administration was expanding, with growing cooperation in minerals, energy, information technology, health, education and counterterrorism. He also praised Pakistani youth, particularly in the IT sector, for gaining international recognition.
He noted that Pakistan’s foreign policy had shifted from a geopolitics-driven approach to one focused on geoeconomics, a transition that was beginning to yield results. Trade in goods between Pakistan and the US increased by 16.3%, exports rose by 11.5%, services trade jumped by 39.7%, and remittances grew by 5.4%.
The ambassador added that Pakistan had successfully safeguarded its competitive interests during tariff-related discussions and said stronger engagement with individual US states was creating new economic opportunities.
He further said Pakistan–US relations were now being managed in a more structured and institutional manner to ensure long-term cooperation.
In a New Year 2026 message from Washington, Sheikh said 2025 had a “transformative” character for Pakistan–US relations, with positive momentum seen across the nearly eight-decade-long bilateral relationship. He added that while cooperation continued in areas such as counterterrorism, health and education, both sides were also identifying new avenues to deepen engagement and build a long-term strategic partnership rooted in economic ties.
