Pakistan expects balanced US approach during Biden administration

Pakistan expects balanced US approach during Biden administration towards India and Pakistan.

Ambassador to the United Nations, Munir Akram said this in an wide-ranging interview with Newsweek.

Pakistan expects balanced US approach

He expressed the hope that United States, under the leadership of President-elect Joe Biden, would adopt a balanced approach towards India and Pakistan.

He said Pakistan helps Biden-led US govt would help prevent an all-out confrontation that threatens the region.

“We hope that, as in the past, the U.S. would adopt a balanced approach towards both India and Pakistan, an approach that is equitable, that takes into account the national interests of not only India, but also Pakistan,”

“If that is the case, if there is a balanced policy from Washington towards the continent, I think Washington would find Pakistan a willing partner,” Ambassador Akram added.

“Obviously, Pakistan would like to have better relations with the United States, and we would be looking to find the areas of convergence where we can work together with the U.S.”, he told Newsweek correspondent Tom O’Conner.

Akram called the U.S.-India strategic partnership a “wrong choice,” but added, “nevertheless that’s the U.S. choice.”

Still, he argued that improving ties with Pakistan could prove extremely beneficial for the upcoming administration.

Washington’s tilt toward New Delhi

Meanwhile, Correspondent O’Connor wrote that Washington’s tilt toward New Delhi also occurred as nuclear-armed India and Pakistan experienced some of their worst tensions in decades over their decades-old Kashmir dispute.

India removed the special status of the disputed state in August last year which was followed by a severe lock down that saw Indian troops committing human rights abuses against protesting Kashmiri people.

In the interview, Akram hoped that based upon his past statements, Biden as president would be willing to address these issues with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In doing so, the Pakistani envoy said, the president-elect could help prevent an all-out confrontation that threatens the region.

Akram further said we hope that with this approach of adherence to the principles of human rights and opposition to repression and all that goes with it.

GTV