US can facilitate Pakistan-India dialogue on Kashmir: Masood Khan
Islamabad: Former president of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Sardar Masood Khan has said that the United States can play a constructive role in facilitating dialogue between Pakistan and India, including on Jammu and Kashmir.
Addressing the Truman Center programme, The Next Chapter of US-Pakistan Relations: Diplomacy and Economic Engagement, Sardar Masood Khan stressed that Washington’s diplomatic engagement would be appreciated and could help create space for peaceful engagement between the two neighbours.
He said Pakistan and the United States must move beyond a predominantly security-centred relationship and invest in economic complementarity, technology, trade and sustainable investment to build a stronger, long-term partnership.
He said both countries needed to reinvest political capital in their relationship and overcome mutual scepticism in Washington and Islamabad.
He said Pakistan could remain an important partner for the United States in counterterrorism, regional security and the evolving situation in the Middle East. He called for stronger defence cooperation and proactive collaboration against terrorist networks operating from Afghanistan. He also highlighted the importance of a comprehensive approach to South Asian security and welcomed continued engagement on counterterrorism.
Turning to economic relations, Masood Khan described the United States as Pakistan’s largest export destination and highlighted opportunities in technology, venture capital, digital services and entrepreneurship. He noted that American companies were operating profitably in Pakistan and that Pakistani-American investors were contributing to sectors including real estate, hospitality and financial technology.
He underscored Pakistan’s rapid digital transformation, including the expansion of mobile connectivity, broadband access and digital transactions. With a substantial freelance workforce and a growing number of technology start-ups, he said Pakistan offered opportunities for collaboration in artificial intelligence, healthcare, diagnostics, digital logistics and other emerging industries.
