Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke by telephone this week, emphasising both sides’ desire to “further strengthen bilateral ties” and increase cooperation. In particular, according to the Foreign Ministry, Pakistan has asked the US to ease the visa process for Pakistani nationals. Simultaneously, US Ambassador to Pakistan Donald Blome met State Minister for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar.
Bilawal described his telephonic interaction with his US counterpart as follows:
Spoke to @SecBlinken, today. We reaffirmed our mutual desire to further strengthen bilateral ties by expanding our engagement in trade, energy, health & security marking 75 years of our relationship. We must increase people-to-people & business-to-business contacts. 🇵🇰 🤝 🇺🇸
— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) July 6, 2022
For his part, Blinken tweeted:
Spoke with Pakistani Foreign Minister @BBhuttoZardari today on expanding the U.S.-Pakistan partnership on economic stability and our joint efforts to support the Afghan people. We look forward to commemorating the 75th anniversary of our diplomatic relations. #PakUSAt75
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) July 6, 2022
The phone call between Pakistan’s foreign minister and the US Secretary of State builds upon their earlier face-to-face meeting in New York during the former’s visit to the United States.
