WASHINGTON: Speakers at an hours-long symposium on Capitol Hill on Tuesday noted that Pakistan’s gesture to mediate peace between the United States and Iran, amid the recent escalation of hostilities between Washington and Tehran, reflects growing confidence in Islamabad’s diplomatic role in regional disputes.
Referring to the recent US–Iran military confrontation — which included direct strikes and retaliatory actions that heightened tensions across the Gulf — participants observed that Pakistan’s outreach underscored its desire to play a stabilising role in a region already burdened by multiple conflicts.
Speakers argued that Pakistan, a developing country of more than 250 million people situated in a strategically sensitive region bordering Afghanistan, Iran, India and close to the Gulf, must be viewed beyond a narrow security lens. They noted that the country has a large diaspora in the United States, a growing and educated middle class, significant natural resources, and nuclear capability — factors that make it an important regional player.
They noted that geography has consistently shaped Islamabad’s strategic choices and constrained its economic potential, as developments in neighbouring states directly affect its security and growth prospects.
The symposium, titled “US and Pakistan: Past, Present, and Future,” was organised by the Congressional Pakistan Caucus and held under the Chatham House Rule. The nearly four-hour session was chaired by Caucus co-chairs Tom Suozzi and Jack Bergman in collaboration with the Embassy of Pakistan.
Natalie Baker, Chargé d’Affaires at the US Embassy in Pakistan, also addressed the conference and thanked members of Congress for organising the important and historic event.
In a social media post, Congressman Tom Suozzi said experts were brought together “to review the history, security and economic dimensions of Pakistan–US bilateral relations and to help build a better future.”
