ISLAMABAD: Pakistan anticipates that relations with the United States under president-elect Donald Trump will continue on a foundation of “mutual respect and non-interference” in each other’s internal matters.
Addressing reporters during her weekly briefing, Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch stated, “Pakistan and the United States are longstanding friends and partners. We will continue to build our relationship based on mutual respect, trust, and a policy of non-interference.” She was responding to inquiries about potential pressure from the Trump administration on Pakistan’s domestic politics.
Supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) hope that Trump may address human rights concerns, particularly the imprisonment of their leader, Imran Khan. However, experts are uncertain if this issue will be prioritized by Trump, given the other critical matters on his agenda.
In the meantime, the Foreign Office spokesperson highlighted Pakistan’s intent to collaborate closely with the Trump administration. Trump’s unexpected victory has drawn global attention, with many nations expressing cautious optimism despite concerns over his unpredictability.
“The president and prime minister of Pakistan have extended their congratulations to President-elect Donald Trump on his election as the 47th President of the United States,” the spokesperson mentioned. “Our relationship with the US has spanned decades, and we are keen to further expand Pakistan-US cooperation across various fields. We look forward to a fruitful, mutually beneficial partnership,” she added.
On another note, the spokesperson announced that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will visit Saudi Arabia to attend the second Joint Arab-Islamic Summit in Riyadh on November 11. The summit will be preceded by the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) preparatory session on November 10, where Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar will participate.
Convened by the Saudi government, this summit will address Middle Eastern affairs, following the extraordinary Joint Arab-Islamic Summit held on November 11, 2023, in Riyadh, which discussed the situation in Gaza and other occupied territories. Heads of State, government representatives, and officials from the Arab League and OIC member countries are expected to attend.
During the summit, Prime Minister Sharif will reaffirm Pakistan’s commitment to supporting the Palestinian cause, advocating for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, an end to Israeli aggression, and calling for international protection for the Palestinian people. He will also push for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on the pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
