ISSI hosts U.S. Cd’A Natalie Baker for Roundtable on Pakistan-U.S. Relations
Islamabad : Centre for Strategic Perspectives (CSP) at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) hosted a Roundtable discussion with Natalie A. Baker, U.S. Chargé d’Affaires of the United States of America to Pakistan, on “Recent Developments in the U.S.-Pakistan Relationship under the Trump Administration.” Other participants included former Ambassadors and senior diplomats, heads of think tanks, academics, practitioners, and area experts.
Director General Ambassador Sohail Mahmood noted that Pakistan and the United States share a long, resilient relationship that has evolved through cooperation and divergence but remained vital for both sides. He added that, notwithstanding the constraints and challenges, the partnership has been adaptable, and helpful in advancing shared goals of peace, stability, and prosperity. During 2025, the relationship has entered an entirely different phase shaped by a range of factors — including a new Administration in the U.S., a rapidly transforming global environment, and Pakistan’s salience in the recent developments in South Asia, West Asia, and the Middle East.
Under the second Trump Administration, Ambassador Sohail Mahmood underlined, ties have entered a pragmatic phase with convergence on enhanced counter-terrorism cooperation, peace in Afghanistan, and crisis prevention in South Asia. He emphasized growing economic engagement, with U.S. investments in Pakistan’s energy, minerals, agriculture, and IT sectors, and highlighted initiatives such as a Pakistan–U.S. Education and IT Corridor, and DFC cooperation. He expressed optimism about expanding collaboration in technology, education, climate resilience, sustainable development, and people-to-people bonds. In this new phase, he stressed the importance of moving away from the cyclical pattern of the past and ensuring a broad-based, multifaceted, and sustainable relationship in the future.
During the wide-ranging exchanges, the participants underscored importance of a deeper, forward-looking partnership built on shared goals of peace, prosperity, and regional stability. The Q&A session also focused on a range of subjects — including enhanced bilateral economic collaboration, situation in Afghanistan; peace, security and strategic stability in South Asia; conflict in the Middle East; and developments in Asia-Pacific.
Ambassador Khalid Mahmood, Chairman of the Board of Governors, ISSI, presented the Institute’s memento to the Guest Speaker, followed by a group photo.
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
