Karachi: February 12-15: US Ambassador Donald Blome visited Karachi and observed the AMAN-23 Naval exercises to further strengthen US-Pakistan cooperation and advance a common vision for peace and stability in the region. During his visit to Karachi, Ambassador Blome also met with the Chief Minister of Sindh, Commander of the Pakistan Fleet (COMPAK), and the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS).
“I was pleased to observe the AMAN-23 exercises, which promote a peaceful, stable, and prosperous Pakistan,” said Ambassador Blome during his visit. “We want to further strengthen our maritime security cooperation with the Pakistan Navy to secure freedom of navigation in international waters to facilitate economic activity. The combined patrol between Pakistan Navy, PMSA (Pakistan Maritime Security Agency), and NAVCENT last October bodes well for our future collaborative efforts.”
AMAN-23 was held concurrently with the Pakistan International Maritime Exhibition and Conference (PIMEC), which hosted trade promotion pavilions relating to the & blue economy. AMAN-23 included two components: the International Maritime Conference (IMC), which was a series of discussion panels about maritime security and trade, and the AMAN-23 naval exercises.
In his meeting with Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, Ambassador Blome affirmed the importance of the U.S.-Pakistan relationship and discussed opportunities to expand U.S.-Pakistan economic partnership and other shared priorities. He also traveled to a warehouse where USAID-procured food is stored for distribution to flood affected areas in Sindh and Balochistan.
This food is being given to feed severely malnourished children and is just one example of how the United States has been leading a robust international effort to support the most vulnerable Pakistani communities. To date, the United States has contributed $200 million to the Pakistani people for flood relief, recovery and resilience efforts.
The Ambassador also visited the Quaid-e-Azam House Museum, which was the home of Pakistan’s founder, Muhammad Ali Jinnah. The Ambassador noted in the Museum’s Visitor Book, “It is a great honor to be here at the Quaid-e-Azam House in Karachi to pay my respects and commemorate the legacy of Muhammad Ali Jinnah. The United States shares his vision of a unified, democratic Pakistan, one in which equality, social justice, and economic opportunity prevail. These ideals gave rise to Pakistan’s creation, and they reflect values that we all hold dear.”
Ambassador Blome and Consul General Nicole Theriot also met with Abbott Laboratories to underscore the importance of U.S.-Pakistan cooperation in the healthcare sector.
The U.S. Mission in Pakistan commends U.S. companies working to ensure that lifesaving medication continues to be available. The strong bilateral military partnership exemplified by AMAN-23 is just one important example of collaboration between the United States and Pakistan. The United States is dedicated to expanding the full range of bilateral trade, security, education, people-to-people, and clean energy cooperation. This promotes a more stable, secure, and prosperous future for both our countries.
