ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has renewed efforts to launch direct air links with the United States, with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi calling for the early launch of flights between the two countries during a meeting with senior American officials in Islamabad on Friday.
The minister made the remarks during his meeting with US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Paul Kapur, where both sides reviewed bilateral relations, regional security issues, and the evolving situation in the Middle East, according to an official statement issued by Pakistan’s interior ministry.
Naqvi said relations between Pakistan and the United States were rooted in mutual trust and cooperation, adding that ties between the two countries had grown stronger during Donald Trump’s tenure.
The meeting was also attended by US Chargé d’Affaires Natalie A. Baker, Pakistan’s Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, and other senior officials. During the discussions, the two sides explored ways to deepen cooperation in security, counterterrorism, and counternarcotics efforts.
Naqvi assured the visiting delegation that comprehensive security arrangements had been put in place for American companies involved in the Reko Diq mining project, one of the world’s largest copper and gold reserves.
The Pakistani minister also expressed hope for a peaceful and lasting resolution to ongoing tensions in the Middle East amid growing international concern over regional stability and the impact of conflicts on global security and trade.
In response, Kapur praised Pakistan’s role in promoting peace and stability in the region and acknowledged Islamabad’s diplomatic efforts aimed at easing tensions.
The renewed effort to launch direct Pakistan-US flights comes months after Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) resumed direct services to London earlier this year, ending a suspension that had lasted many years.
