WASHINGTON: Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States Rizwan Saeed Sheikh has begun the new year with a series of important engagements with senior American leadership, marking a positive start toward further strengthening bilateral relations.
As part of these efforts, Ambassador Sheikh met Chairman of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee, Brian Mast, where both sides reaffirmed their commitment to working together to further consolidate Pakistan–U.S. relations, says a press release.
The ambassador expressed appreciation for Chairman Mast’s leadership, continued support, and contributions toward promoting bilateral ties.
Referring to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s stated commitment to transforming Pakistan–U.S. relations into a long-term, sustainable partnership centered on economic cooperation, Ambassador Sheikh proposed declaring 2026 as a “Year of Action.”
He emphasized the need to initiate a high-level bilateral economic dialogue at the earliest.
The ambassador highlighted the importance of launching comprehensive and result-oriented discussions in key sectors including energy, defense, minerals, information technology, and artificial intelligence.
He noted that Pakistan, with its low-cost and high-quality production capabilities, is well positioned to meet the growing demands of the U.S. market.
Ambassador Sheikh underlined that Pakistani-made surgical instruments are globally renowned for their quality, while a conducive trade environment and focused engagement could significantly enhance textile and other Pakistani exports.
He cited the continuous use of footballs manufactured in Sialkot in the last five FIFA World Cup tournaments as clear evidence of Pakistan’s strength in the sports goods sector.
The meeting also included an in-depth exchange of views on regional and security issues. Ambassador Sheikh warned that terrorism emanating from Afghanistan poses serious threats to Pakistan’s security as well as to regional and international peace.
He informed Chairman Mast that terrorist incidents in Pakistan increased by 40 percent in 2024 and a further 25 percent in 2025, largely due to the activities of terrorist groups operating from Afghan territory.
The ambassador also expressed grave concern over the continued misuse of weapons left behind during the withdrawal from Afghanistan, describing their aggressive use as a destabilizing factor.
During the meeting, Ambassador Sheikh formally invited Chairman Brian Mast to visit Pakistan, noting that such a visit would help further strengthen parliamentary and people-to-people ties between the two countries.
Both sides concluded the meeting by reaffirming their resolve to deepen cooperation in economic, security, and other key areas, underscoring their shared commitment to a stronger and more forward-looking Pakistan–U.S. partnership.
