Says geopolitical considerations, economic goals and security challenges remain central to Pakistan’s policymaking
Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Sheikh engaged students at Columbia University SIPA on Pakistan’s evolving geopolitical role. PHOTO: PAKISTAN CONSULATE GENERAL OF NEW YORK ON X
Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, on Saturday reiterated Islamabad’s commitment to regional stability and diplomatic engagement while highlighting the country’s evolving geopolitical role during an address at Columbia University.
Speaking at a discussion hosted by the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), Sheikh outlined Pakistan’s foreign policy priorities, including its engagement with the US and efforts to promote dialogue in regional conflicts.
He said Pakistan continues to play a constructive role in facilitating diplomatic engagement, including in the Iran–US context, as part of its broader push for peace and stability.
Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Sheikh engaged students at Columbia University SIPA on Pakistan’s evolving geopolitical role, highlighting foreign policy priorities, regional dynamics, and global partnerships. Joined by CG Aamir Ahmad Atozai. pic.twitter.com/bDRr6MJaHJ
— Pakistan Consulate General New York (@PakinNewYork) April 24, 2026
The session, moderated by Rumela Sen, also covered the historical trajectory of Pakistan–US relations, with the ambassador noting both areas of cooperation and shifting strategic priorities over time.
Sheikh said geopolitical considerations, economic goals and security challenges remain central to Pakistan’s policymaking as it navigates an increasingly multipolar global landscape.
Students engaged the ambassador in a question-and-answer session on regional security, economic diplomacy and Pakistan’s strategic outlook.
Pakistan’s Consul General in New York, Aamir Ahmad Atozai, also attended the event, which underscored ongoing academic and diplomatic engagement between the two countries.
Read: US negotiators to arrive in Islamabad, but Iran says no direct talks ‘planned’
Last week, Sheikh called for promoting bilateral economic relations, saying that the Pakistan-US bilateral relations were not merely optional but an important necessity of the present time and the future.
The ambassador, in his address at the “Pakistan Conference” held at Harvard University, invited American businessmen and investors to exploit Pakistan’s potential, reiterating the country’s commitment to provide every possible facilitation to investors.
The ambassador said that Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah had envisioned Pakistan emerging as “the axis of the world” and that, owing to Pakistan’s decades-long positive diplomatic role and consistent efforts, the country was selected as a facilitator for US-Iran negotiations.
