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 changing geopolitical role. PHOTO: PAKISTAN CONSULATE GENERAL IN 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 changing geopolitical role during a speech at Columbia University.
Speaking at a discussion organized by the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), Sheikh outlined Pakistan’s foreign policy priorities, including its engagement with the United States 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 the country’s broader push for peace and stability.
Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Sheikh engaged students at Columbia University SIPA on Pakistan’s changing geopolitical role, highlighting foreign policy priorities, regional dynamics and global partnerships. Along with CG Aamir Ahmad Atozai. pic.twitter.com/bDRr6MJaHJ
— Consulate General of Pakistan in New York (@PakinNewYork) April 24, 2026
Moderated by Rumela Sen, the session also covered the historical trajectory of Pakistan-US relations, with the ambassador noting both areas of cooperation and changing 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 the ongoing academic and diplomatic engagement between the two countries.
Read: US negotiators arrive in Islamabad, but Iran says no direct talks ‘planned’
Last week, Sheikh called for the promotion of bilateral economic relations, saying that Pakistan-US bilateral relations were not merely optional, but an important necessity for the present and the future.
The ambassador, in his speech at the “Pakistan Conference” held at Harvard University, invited American businessmen and investors to tap Pakistan’s potential, and reiterated the country’s commitment to provide every possible relief to investors.
The ambassador said that Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah envisioned Pakistan to emerge as the “axis of the world” and that because of Pakistan’s decades-long positive diplomatic role and consistent efforts, the country was selected as a facilitator for US-Iran talks.
