The U.S.-Pakistan Relationship: Challenges and Opportunities

The Honorable Khurshid M. Kasuri, Pakistan’s foreign minister since November 2002, will speak on the current state of U.S.-Pakistan relations. He will touch upon such current concerns as the protracted dialogue with India over Kashmir and other issues; the recent announcement of the sale of F-16s to Pakistan; and the status of U.S.-Pakistan cooperation on the fight against terrorism, especially in Afghanistan and Pakistan itself. Brookings President Strobe Talbott will provide introductory remarks.

Mr. Kasuri has had a long and distinguished career in Pakistani politics. He was first elected to Pakistan’s National Assembly in 1977 and has served on a number of parliamentary committees. He has been Pakistan’s special envoy to a number of countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, France, and Germany, and has been active in numerous track-two dialogues with Indian counterparts.

A question and answer session will follow Minister Kasuri’s remarks.

The Leadership Forum provides high-level government officials from around the world the opportunity to address members of the Washington policy community and to share their insights and perspectives on world events as well as on issues of particular concern to their countries.