ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday hailed more than eight decades of cooperation between Pakistan and the United States, citing strong bilateral ties in counterterrorism, trade and investment as he congratulated the U.S. on its 250th anniversary.
Speaking at an event marking the milestone, Sharif extended greetings to President Donald Trump, the U.S. administration and the American people on behalf of Pakistan’s government and citizens.
“The relationship between Pakistan and the United States spans more than eight decades,” Sharif said, noting that the U.S. was among the first countries to recognize Pakistan after its independence.
The prime minister said the two nations have developed cooperation over the years in agriculture, education and economic development. He added that thousands of Pakistani graduates have received training in the U.S. and that about 1 million Pakistanis consider America their second home.
Sharif praised Trump as a “proponent of peace” and credited him with helping de-escalate tensions between Pakistan and India last year. He also said Pakistan is acting as a “sincere intermediary” between the U.S. and Iran and expressed gratitude to both countries for their confidence in Islamabad’s efforts.
Sharif further commended Chief of Defence Force and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir for his role in advancing regional peace and stability.
U.S. Charge d’Affaires Natalie Baker, addressing the same ceremony, called the Declaration of Independence “profoundly significant” and noted what she described as a remarkable transformation in US-Pakistan relations over the past two years.
Baker credited Trump’s “bold and results-oriented leadership” with elevating ties to a genuine strategic partnership grounded in mutual respect and shared security goals. She said Trump’s personal engagement with Pakistani leaders reflected “genuine personal bonds at the highest levels” of both governments.
Baker also paid tribute to Islamabad for hosting the highest-level U.S.-Iran talks since the 1979 revolution. “Pakistan, by having good ties with both Tehran and Washington, was uniquely positioned to bring two adversaries together,” she said. “It was Pakistan’s moment, and Pakistan rose to it.”
She spoke warmly of Pakistan’s cultural revival, including the return of Lahore’s Basant kite festival after nearly two decades, and her visits to communities in interior Sindh. Baker also noted Pakistan’s role in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, saying the country is manufacturing the soccer balls to be used at venues across the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
“As we enter America’s Golden Age, I genuinely believe the most important chapter of the US-Pakistan partnership has only just begun, the best is yet to come,” Baker said.
