WASHINGTON: The University of Pennsylvania hosted Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States Dr. Asad M. Khan for a hybrid discussion on the future of the Pakistan-US relationship following the withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan.
The event was the first series of talks on the situation in Afghanistan being organized at the Perry World House.
Ambassador Dr. Asad Khan said that a broad-based and long-term relationship between Pakistan and the United States remained critical to advancing both countries’ bilateral and regional interests including in a post-war Afghanistan.
The ambassador said that a rich history of working together, natural cultural affinity, and a dynamic Pakistani American community would continue to reinforce and deepen Pakistan-US ties in the future.
When asked regarding the recent developments in Afghanistan, Ambassador Asad Khan stressed that Pakistan and the United States have a fundamental convergence on achieving a politically inclusive end state in Afghanistan.
The ambassador said that it is only through the means of a stable and broad-based government in Afghanistan that could ensure that Afghan territory is never exploited by transnational terrorist groups again.
Ambassador Dr. Asad Khan highlighted that Pakistan had joined the international community in urging the Taliban to uphold their commitments on guaranteeing safe passage to those who wish to leave Afghanistan, counterterrorism, protecting human rights, and forming a more inclusive government.
The envoy said that Afghanistan faced an “inflection point” in the form of a rapidly worsening humanitarian situation.
Dr. Asad M. Khan hoped that the world would not repeat the mistake of disengaging from Afghanistan. He said that the international community must assist Afghanistan in averting more instability, chaos, and mass migration, which would impact not only its neighbors but countries farther afield.
The talk was followed by a detailed question and answers session where the students engaged with the Ambassador.
The event was live-streamed on social media platforms.
