What happened
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif marked the 250th anniversary of United States independence at a reception in Islamabad on Thursday, describing relations between the two countries as strong across a range of sectors including counter-terrorism, trade and investment.
Speaking at the event at the US Embassy, the prime minister congratulated US President Donald Trump, his administration and the American people on behalf of the government and people of Pakistan.
He said the relationship spans more than eight decades and noted that the United States was among the first countries to recognise Pakistan after its independence. Over the years, he said, the two countries had developed cooperation in fields including agriculture, education and economic development.
The prime minister said thousands of Pakistani graduates had received training in the United States, while around one million Pakistanis considered the US their second home. He highlighted current cooperation in counter-terrorism, trade and investment, and called for the long-standing partnership to be celebrated.
Praise for Trump and mediation
Mr Shehbaz praised President Trump, saying he would be remembered as a proponent of peace. Referring to tensions between Pakistan and India last year, he said Mr Trump had played a role in helping de-escalate the situation between the two neighbours.
He further said Pakistan was acting as a sincere intermediary between the United States and Iran and expressed gratitude to both countries for their confidence in Pakistan’s efforts. He also commended Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir for his role in advancing Pakistan’s efforts for regional peace and stability.
The US view
Addressing the ceremony, US Charge d’Affaires Natalie Baker reflected on the significance of the Declaration of Independence and on what she described as the transformation of the US-Pakistan relationship over the past two years.
She credited President Trump’s leadership with elevating the relationship to what she called a genuine strategic partnership, grounded in mutual respect, aligned interests and a shared vision for security and prosperity. She said the president’s personal engagement with Pakistani leadership reflected the bonds that exist at the highest levels of both governments.
Baker paid tribute to Islamabad’s role as the venue for the highest-level US-Iran talks since the 1979 revolution, saying Pakistan, by having good ties with both Tehran and Washington, was “uniquely positioned to bring two adversaries together”. “It was Pakistan’s moment, and Pakistan rose to it,” she said.
She also noted the role of sports as a form of diplomacy, saying Pakistan is at the heart of the FIFA World Cup 2026 by manufacturing the footballs to be used at venues in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Sources & reporting notes
This is a summary of published reporting and official remarks, not independent reporting. Details and quotations are as carried by the cited source, which was reviewed on 2026-06-04.
- Geo News — "PM Shehbaz hails strong Islamabad-Washington ties to mark US 250th anniversary"4 June 2026 · Reports the prime minister's remarks and the US charge d'affaires's address at the US Embassy reception in Islamabad.
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