The United States is looking forward to "working closely" with newly elected Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his government across regional and international issues, the US State Department said on Tuesday, describing the US-Pakistan relationship as a "vital one".

"For almost 75 years, our relationship with Pakistan has been a vital one. We look forward to continuing that work with the new government in Pakistan across regional and international issues,” State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said, adding that partnership has the potential to promote peace and prosperity in Pakistan and throughout the region.

Significantly, the ties between the two countries came under significant pressure in the days leading to the ouster of former prime minister Imran Khan who blamed the US for the fall of his government. The US denied these charges.

Besides the country’s military, which has always had good fraternal ties with its US counterparts, Pakistan’s newly elected Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stressed the importance of maintaining good ties with the United States, which remains the top market for the country’s exports. 

On Pakistan’s alleged airstrikes inside Afghanistan, Price said, “We are aware of the reports of Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan, but we’d refer you to the Pakistani government for comment."

Pakistan remains the US’ major non-NATO ally and the cooperation on counter-terrorism forms a crucial segment of their ties. The relationship suffered a setback in the last few years due to Pakistan’s covert support for the Afghan Taliban’s insurgency.

However, after the exit of the US from the region following the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, the danger of regrouping of transnational terrorist groups has grown significantly. And, here a basic working relationship with Pakistan, many believe, becomes even more crucial for the United States.

Tamanna Salikuddin, an expert on the region, and Director of South Asia Programs at the United State Institute of Peace (USIP), said, “With Khan’s exit there may be an opportunity to reset relations between the United States and Pakistan, especially in light of Army Chief Bajwa’s and Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s interest in maintaining a realistic (read transactional and economic) relationship with both the United States and China, and openness to some rapprochement with India.”

(SAM)