LAHORE: Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States and Punjab University alumnus Rizwan Saeed Sheikh says the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is working against Pakistan from Afghanistan, using weapons the US army left in Afghanistan during the 2021 exit.

He was addressing a seminar on ‘Pakistan’s Foreign Policy and Pak-US Relations’ organised by the Punjab University’s Institute of Education and Research (IER) at the Waheed Shaheed Hall.

Institute of Fashion and Design Chancellor Faisal Janjua, IER Director Prof Dr Abdul Qayyum Chaudhry, faculty members and a large number of students were present.

He said Pakistan has earned benefits and faced losses due to its crucial location in the region. “We should go beyond our geopolitical status and benefit from the importance of our geo-economic position for the development of the country in the present age,” he said.

He shed light on the historical and strategic significance of Pakistan-US relations, challenges faced and the avenues for mutual cooperation. He emphasised strong ties between the two countries, highlighting their collaboration in various areas, particularly security and counter terrorism.

Mr Sheikh said that there were ups and downs in the relations between Pakistan and the US but the world benefited whatever tasks both countries did together in the past.

He said that the countries could not move forward without admitting their mistakes and Pakistan and the US jointly did a lot of good work.

He said that Pakistan has made the most sacrifices in the war against terrorism and currently American weapons left in Afghanistan were being used against Pakistan by TTP and other terrorist organisations.

He said that Pakistani IT graduates were playing an important role in the IT sector of America and were providing quality services at 70 per cent cheaper price than others.

He said that there is a political polarisation in America in favour of India and against China.

He said that America is our largest trade market and one million Pakistanis were living in America.

Mr Sheikh said that Pakistan’s economic development would require promoting cooperation with China and GCC countries.

He said that Pakistan’s location would make it important in international affairs and geographical, economic and political conditions could play an important role in shaping foreign policy.

He said that he visited Punjab University after 33 years and this university had made him capable of becoming ambassador to the US.

Prof Dr Abdul Qayyum Chaudhry said that the institution has been a partner with USAID since 1960.

He said that 25 million children in Pakistan are out of school and USAID helped build a new building for elementary education in 2015.

He said that he is grateful to USAID for playing an important role in the promotion of education in Pakistan.

He said the USAID has invested millions of dollars for the promotion of education in Pakistan and demanded a platform to Pakistani youth.

Published in Dawn, January 9th, 2025