Our strong, enduring partnership will continue to improve lives of Pakistanis & Americans & have a positive global impact: Donald Blome

ISLAMABAD, Mar 21 (SABAH): “Our strong, enduring partnership will continue to improve the lives of Pakistanis and Americans and have a positive global impact. The U.S.-Pakistan Green Alliance Framework is a prime example.” These were the views shared by United States Ambassador to Pakistan Donald Blome, at the CASS Ambassador Lecture on ‘Pak-US Relations: The Way Forward’ organised by the Centre for Aerospace & Security Studies (CASS), here in the capital.

Ambassador Blome, a seasoned diplomat, who earlier served in Tunisia, discussed the 75 years of bilateral relations between the two countries, especially decades of development assistance which had supported the construction of schools, hospitals and built highways throughout the country, as well as education through its scholarship programmes. He appreciated the important role being played by Pakistani Diaspora in business and government who had built a network of personal and professional connections that had established a strong foundation for the US-Pak relationship. Ambassador Blome also highlighted the long history of humanitarian work from the earthquake of 2005 and floods of 2010 and 2011 to the recent devastating super floods in the country to ensure Pakistanis in need received life-saving assistance.

Moderated by Ambassador Jalil Abbas Jilani, Advisor to CASS on Foreign Affairs, the talk was followed by a candid Question/Answer session between the Ambassador and participants who included serving and retired military officers, academia and diplomats.

Delivering his Concluding Remarks, President CASS Air Marshal Farhat Hussain Khan (Retd) thanked the guest speaker and was hopeful that the strong foundations of Pak-US relationship would further strengthen their bilateral ties, especially inclusive economic growth, and regional peace & prosperity.