Many key US Senators and Congressmen have reaffirmed their commitment to further cement Pak-US ties and expanding the scope of existing cooperation to trade and investment, renewable energy, climate change, regional security and promoting people exchanges during their meetings with Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States Masood Khan.
During the past week, Ambassador Masood Khan met a number of US law-makers including Senator Bill Hagerty, Senator Jon Ossoff, Representative Jim Banks, Co-Chair Pakistan Congressional Caucus, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, Ranking Member House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development and Representative Jason Crow.
Separately, the Ambassador has also written letters to score of US law-makers thanking them for their resolute support during the recent vote in the House that rejected a proposed amendment to prohibit assistance to Pakistan under the State Foreign Operations and Related Programs Appropriations (SFOFS) Act 2024.
During meeting with Senator Bill Hagerty, the two sides discussed ways to further strengthen Pak-US relations with a focus on cementing ties in trade and investment, energy and counter-terrorism.
In a meeting with Jon Ossoff, the US Senator from the state of Georgia, matters relating to bilateral relations and regional situation were discussed.
Separately, the Ambassador had a productive meeting with Congressman Jim Banks, Co-Chair Pakistan Congressional Caucus.
He thanked Representative Banks for his leadership in the Caucus and resolute support to Pakistan in Congress.
Masood Khan also met Ranking Member House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur and discussed Pak-US cooperation in defence, science and technology, education, renewable energy, climate change, and people to people linkages.
Separately, the Ambassador has also thanked US Congressman Mike McCaul, Chairman House Foreign Affairs Committee, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Chairperson Congressional Pakistan Caucus, Congressman Dean Phillips (D-Minn.), Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (D-Wash.), Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), and Congressman Lance Gooden (R-Texas) for their strong support to Pakistan in foiling a move aimed at prohibiting assistance to Pakistan under the State Foreign Operations and Related Programs Appropriations (SFOPS) Act 2024.
Ambassador in his letters to the US law-makers wrote that we appreciate your intercession and counsel that ensured that the vote against the amendment enjoyed bi-partisan support.
He said that the assistance earmarked under SFOPS would go to critical areas of cooperation including economic support, counter-narcotics, counter-terrorism, military education training and health programs.
Source: Radio Pakistan