https://arab.news/zwsj3
- Natalie Baker says Pakistan-US partnership has boosted security in both countries and the region
- She praises Pakistan for choosing path to peace with India, hopes to expand ties ‘into new frontiers’
ISLAMABAD: The United States on Wednesday praised Pakistan’s leadership for helping broker a ceasefire with India and deepening counterterrorism cooperation, saying such efforts had made both nations and the wider region more secure.
The comments were made by US Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker at her country’s Independence Day reception in Islamabad.
The ceasefire was announced by President Donald Trump on May 10 following a four-day standoff between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan, during which the two sides exchanged missile, drone and artillery fire in one of the most intense military escalations in their recent history.
“Our collaboration helped broker a ceasefire between Pakistan and India, a reminder that when we stand together, even persistent tensions can find a path to peace,” Baker said in her remarks.
“I want to echo President Trump’s deep appreciation to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal [Asim] Munir for their leadership and commitment in choosing the path of peace,” she continued, calling their vision “transformative” while hoping to “take the US-Pakistan relationship into new frontiers.”
The US diplomat described the security and defense cooperation between the two countries as a pillar of bilateral partnership.
“For decades, our militaries have trained together, operated together and stood together to address shared threats, from terrorism to regional instability,” she continued. “Through joint exercises, capacity-building programs and military education exchanges, we’ve improved not only the security of our own nations but the safety of the wider region.”
“I want to acknowledge and thank our US and Pakistani military officials for your dedication, sacrifice and shared mission to make both our countries safer – a legacy we deeply honor,” she added.
Baker cited Pakistan’s recent capture and extradition of the Daesh militant responsible for the deadly 2021 Abbey Gate bombing in Kabul as a major milestone, saying it reflected growing operational trust between the two countries.
The attack killed 13 American service members and over 160 Afghan civilians during the US military withdrawal from Afghanistan.
“Thanks to the leadership and resolve of Pakistan’s military and security authorities, terrorists are being brought to justice,” she said.
“As President Trump noted in his March address to the US Congress, the bravery and wisdom of Pakistan’s leadership has made both of our nations more secure.”
The event marked the 249th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence and was attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other senior Pakistani officials, diplomats, business leaders and civil society representatives.
Baker said the bilateral US-Pakistan relationship had grown stronger across multiple sectors, from security and trade to innovation and cultural exchange.