Pak presents blueprint for bilateral ties with US based mostly on economic system and never on safety, defence ties: report

Seeking a “paradigm shift” in its ties with the US, Pakistan’s National Security Adviser Moeed Yusuf has offered to his American counterpart Jake Sullivan a blueprint to reinforce bilateral relations not based mostly on safety and defence however specializing in economic system and commerce, in accordance with a media report on Wednesday.
Yusuf, who was appointed because the National Security Adviser (NSA) this month, met Sullivan on Sunday in Geneva. In a primary in-person high-level assembly, the Pakistani and the US NSAs held wide-ranging talks on the bilateral, regional and international problems with mutual curiosity.
Breaking from the previous apply, Yusuf offered the Pakistani plan, looking for bilateral cooperation with the US not based mostly on safety and defence however economic system, commerce and enterprise.
Sources acquainted with the event informed The Express Tribune that Pakistan is looking for a “paradigm shift” in its strategy so far as ties with the US are involved.

The relationship between Pakistan and the US has typically been seen as transactional as Islamabad for lengthy relied on the nation’s strategic location for leverage with Washington.
Former US president Donald Trump had suspended all safety help to Pakistan in January 2018, arguing that he was not happy with Islamabad’s cooperation and position within the battle in opposition to terrorism.
However, there was a consensus among the many policymakers that Pakistan wants to maneuver away from geo-strategic to geo-economics. At an Islamabad Security Dialogue held earlier this 12 months, Pakistan’s civil and army management talked about that shift.
In line with that strategy, Prime Minister Imran Khan in March shaped an Apex Committee that was tasked with formulating a brand new technique on ties with the US below the Biden administration, the report mentioned.
The 14-member committee is headed by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and includes ministers for finance, nationwide meals safety, financial affairs, info expertise, nationwide safety adviser, and Prime Minister’s aides on commerce, local weather change, human useful resource improvement, energy, and funding.
The Terms of Reference of the committee solely centered on discovering methods and means to hunt cooperation between Pakistan and the US within the fields of economic system, commerce, enterprise, power, expertise, and local weather change.
This is seen as a transparent departure from the sooner strategy adopted by Pakistan and the US that largely centered on safety cooperation with Afghanistan.
Sources mentioned Moeed went to Geneva with a ‘blueprint’ envisaging Pakistan’s need to broaden its relationship with the US past safety cooperation and Afghanistan, in accordance with the report.
Different ministries and departments made a number of proposals figuring out potential areas of cooperation between Pakistan and the US.
The Board of Investment (BoI) has proposed to draw extra US overseas direct funding in Pakistan, particularly by expertise corporations. The BoI additionally seeks US funding by particular incentive regimes.
The Ministry of Commerce has instructed that an American-Pakistan Economic Zone may very well be arrange close to Karachi port to permit reprocessing at concessional charges.

It has additionally proposed to reinforce structured engagement by TIFA Ministerial Council and Business Opportunities Conference. Last time, the TIFA council assembly was held in May 2019. The US-Pakistan TIFA is the first mechanism for each international locations to debate commerce and funding points and deal with methods to strengthen the bilateral relationship.
The United States continues to be Pakistan’s largest marketplace for exports.
The Ministry of Commerce has additionally sought early finalisation of proposed laws on Reconstruction Opportunity Zones, which had been promised by the Bush administration in return for Pakistan’s assist to the US battle in Afghanistan.
However, it isn’t clear if the Biden administration is receptive to the thought given its strategic priorities and shut ties with India. Also, shut ties between Pakistan and China is usually a main issue which will desist the US from looking for broader engagement with Pakistan, the report mentioned.
It is believed that given the dialog, Pakistani authorities have had thus far with the brand new US administration, Washington has linked future cooperation with Pakistan delivering on the Afghan peace course of.

Unlike the previous, this time the US doesn’t wish to give any incentives to Pakistan earlier than the Afghan endgame. If there’s a peace deal to the satisfaction of the US, there’s a chance of Washington providing sure incentives to Islamabad on commerce, economic system, and different points.
Meanwhile, sources mentioned Moeed might go to Washington quickly following his latest assembly together with his American counterpart, the report mentioned.