ISLAMABAD:
Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s recent visit to the United States could restore bilateral leadership-level contacts between the two countries. countriesfamiliar diplomatic sources with in development said.
Bilawal made his first visit to the US as a foreigner last week. minister primarily to attend a conference on food security in New York by invitation of US secretary of Anthony Blinken’s fortune.
On the sidelines of Bilaval held over hour meeting with Secretary of State Blinken, breaking the months-long stalemate between Pakistan and the US.
Read more: Bilawal supports Imran’s visit to Russia
The meeting was called “constructive” and helped break the ice in relations, diplomatic sources said Express Tribune.
In fact, the sources claimed that the invitation for conference on food security just cover-up, real goal of the visit was to arrange a Bilawal-Blinken meeting.
Secretary Blinken agrees to receive Bilawal on the short notice was seen as unprecedented given recent tensions between the two countries.
After former prime minister Imran Khan’s visit to Moscow was complete accident in ties between Pakistan and the United States.
Unlike PTI public According to sources, the position of Imran Khan government tried to subdue the Biden administration over Russia’s visit and Pakistan’s position on Ukrainian conflict.
See also: US wants to “expand ties” with Pakistan, Blinken assures Bilawal
Former foreign minister Shah Mahmoud Qureshi tried to contact Secretary of State Blinken in to explain Pakistan’s position, but diplomatic sources reported that a senior American diplomat refused to attend Qureshi’s meeting. call.
Against this background, Bilawal’s visit was regarded as significant. Prior to the trip, Director General of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lieutenant General Nadeem Anjum visited Washington and held talks with relevant US officials, including the head of the CIA. Visit of According to sources, DG ISI went “very well”.
AT view of this flurry of engagements, now there is a possibility of management contact.
President Biden completely ignored former Prime Minister Imran when he was in officesince he never called him. But the opportunity of telephone call between President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Shehbaz out.
Sources say a lot will depend on how for a long time government remains in power. Western capitals are currently after policy of “wait and see”, since there is still no clarity as to whether this is government completes the rest of in term or goes for early elections, as demanded by Imran Khan.
As soon as there is clarity about durability of in current The government will have further exchanges between Pakistan and the US.
After Bilaval’s visit to the United States, one gets the feeling that Washington, which has significant influence on IMF, will not create obstacles in in way of international lenders for recovery program with Pakistan.
Delegations of the IMF and Pakistan currently conduct of negotiations in Doha to revive the program. But fate of IMF program depends on in coalition government take tough economic decisions including the removal of fuel subsidies.
But under the leadership of Shehbaz government does not want to be decisive decisions as it is first seeking guarantee from powerful quarter to ensure what current dispensation will complete rest of in term.
Sources said that next pair of days are critical because on one Imran Khan’s hand leading trip to islamabad on May 25 so far on same day negotiations with concluded the IMF.
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