In a significant move marking the first official correspondence with a Pakistani premier during his tenure, President Joe Biden of the United States has penned a letter to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, affirming unwavering support and emphasizing the critical nature of the relationship between the two nations for bilateral and regional peace and security.
Notably, since assuming office in January 2021, President Biden had not reached out to former Prime Minister Imran Khan following his electoral victory, nor did he engage in dialogue with Prime Minister Sharif upon his succession to Khan's position in April 2022, as reported by The Express Tribune.
The recent oath-taking ceremony of Sharif for his second term as prime minister followed a contentious election, characterized by allegations of rigging by his political opponent, Imran Khan, founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. Khan openly accused the United States of orchestrating his removal from office after he was ousted through a vote of no-confidence in April 2022.
Despite PTI-backed independent candidates securing the majority of seats in the National Assembly, a post-election agreement between the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), led by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), led by former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto, led to the formation of a coalition government. Shehbaz Sharif assumed the role of prime minister under the PML-N, while Asif Ali Zardari of the PPP became President, both for a second term, as part of the coalition deal.
Biden's letter, as disclosed by the US Embassy, underscores the enduring partnership between the two nations in addressing global and regional challenges, including security, health, economic growth, and education. The US-Pakistan Green Alliance framework is highlighted as a vehicle for further collaboration on climate resilience, sustainable agriculture, water management, and flood recovery efforts.
Moreover, Biden reiterated the United States' commitment to collaborating with Pakistan to safeguard human rights and foster progress, concluding with a pledge to strengthen the partnership between the two nations and foster closer ties between their people.
Efforts to recalibrate relations between the two countries are underway, with Pakistan addressing concerns raised by a senior US official regarding the recent general elections and their aftermath. The Foreign Office spokesperson attributed these concerns to a misunderstanding of Pakistan's internal situation and electoral laws.
Earlier statements from US officials, including Ambassador Donald Blome, underscored the importance of Pakistan as a partner and expressed optimism about enhancing bilateral relations with the newly-elected government.
The backdrop of the recent elections saw notable commentary from US lawmakers, with Congressman Ro Khanna leading allegations of electoral manipulation by the Pakistani military to sway the outcome in favor of certain candidates. Khan himself appealed to the US for intervention, citing concerns over the legitimacy of the electoral process.
In response, the White House expressed concerns over reports of voter intimidation and suppression during the elections, with assurances that the situation was being closely monitored. Additionally, there were calls from US lawmakers to withhold recognition of the election results pending further investigation into alleged irregularities. John Kirby, Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council, reiterated the US administration's vigilance regarding developments in Pakistan.
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