As Pakistan approaches its general elections, engagement between visitors from the United States and political parties in Pakistan has intensified.
A couple of months back, a US congressional delegation led by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer visited Pakistan to discuss the “broad-based partnership” between the two countries.
After this, PTI Vice President Fawad Chaudhry met with US Ambassador Donald Blome to discuss Pakistan’s “worsening human rights situation” in Pakistan. Just last week, a delegation of lawmakers from the California assembly met with PTI Chairman Imran Khan.
PTI’s Efforts to Rebuild Image in the US
Sources suggest that this engagement results from active lobbying by PTI representatives in the US, particularly in California, Texas, and Illinois, where a significant Pakistani population exists. PTI leaders, especially those from Houston, have been hosting US lawmakers to convince Americans that neither Mr. Khan nor his party is against the US.
In August 2022, PTI hired a PR firm, Fenton-Arnook, to improve its image in the US. However, the PTI chairman’s focal person for the US, Sajjad Burki, clarified that the firm would not lobby for the party. PTI leaders from Virginia, Maryland, and New York are also involved in the campaign to rebuild PTI’s image.
This engagement between the two sides is a departure from the status quo that prevailed until late last year, when engagements between the two sides were mostly limited to state functionaries.
The relationship between the PTI regime and Washington was conspicuously icy, but after his ouster, there seemed to be a thaw. The recent resurgence of terrorism in the country and the deepening of the economic crisis is the latest opening that seems to have prompted much engagement between the two capitals.
The State Department has reaffirmed its commitment to help Pakistan, and observers believe that this is the most the US could officially say without being accused of overtly supporting the incumbent government.
The US overtures were not limited to help during the current cycle of crisis, and officials are laying the groundwork for a continuing partnership, even if a new party takes power following the upcoming general elections.
