ISLAMABAD: Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) for South and Central Asian Affairs at the US Department of State John Mark Pommersheim concluded a five-day visit to Pakistan, marking the continued close cooperation between the two countries.
The visit comes at a significant moment as Pakistan and the US seek to deepen cooperation on economic growth and shared security interests, according to the American Embassy in Islamabad. It said that under President Trump’s vision, the US was forging new partnerships, championing innovation and defining a new era of diplomacy that would be forwarded in the next 250 years.
During the visit, Pommersheim met Director General of Military Operations Major General Kashif Abdullah, Director General of Military Intelligence Major General Wajid Aziz Khan, Minister of IT and Telecommunications Shaza Khawaja, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik. He also engaged with business leaders and alumni of US exchange programs.
In Islamabad, he attended the launch of Pakistan’s Indus AI Week, where he supported US interests in expanding partnerships in Pakistan’s IT and digital sectors and advocated a level-playing field for US firms. The US official’s discussions with Pakistani officials underscored the importance of expanding trade and investment, including AI, IT, energy and critical minerals and mining sectors. He recognised Pakistan’s ongoing economic reform efforts under the IMF programme and encouraged officials to implement policies that foster a fair investment environment. He welcomed Pakistan’s efforts to implement reforms that enable private sector-led growth.
In Lahore, he attended Basant celebrations, experiencing Pakistan’s rich cultural heritage firsthand. He met Senior Minister of Punjab Marriyum Aurangzeb to discuss the US business engagement with Punjab and promote Pakistani investment in the United States. He also visited the US Educational Foundation in Pakistan’s new building, which opened in December 2025, where he met US exchange programme alumni.
