Elaine Pasquini
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CAIR Fairness Award recipient. Journalist elaine_pasquini Reporter Pakistan Link, Washington Report on Middle East Affairs. Nuze.Ink
Articles by Elaine Pasquini
Lebanon Struggles Amidst Continuing Israeli Attacks
Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, October 2026, pp. 72-73 Waging Peace WASHINGTON, DC’S Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) hosted an Aug. 3 webinar on the challenges facing Lebanon as it endures Israeli bombardment and occupation. Southern Lebanon, which is Shi’i-majority and a Hezbollah stronghold, has been the most impacted by Israel’s continuing attacks. “The devastation is unspeakable,” Maha Yahya, director of the Malcolm H.
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Washington, DC: On September 11, 2026, Mrs Lubna Rizwan Sheikh, wife of Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, honored the occasion of Eid Milad-un-Nabi (commemoration of the birth of Prophet Muhammad) during the holy month of Rabi-ul-Awwal (the third month of the Islamic calendar), at the Pakistan Embassy, with a traditional Mehfil-e-Milad (spiritual and celebratory gathering commemorating the birth of Prophet Muhammad).
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Washington, DC: On Pakistan Defense and Martyrs’ Day on September 4, 2026, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, Ambassador of Pakistan to the United States, honored his country’s armed forces – the Army, Air Force and Navy – and law enforcement agencies for their invaluable sacrifices in safeguarding the nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
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A historic milestone of the celebration was the unveiling at the embassy of a statue of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammed Ali Jinnah to mark his upcoming 150th birth anniversary Washington, DC: The Embassy of Pakistan in Washington honored the 79th anniversary of Pakistan’s independence with an inspiring flag-hoisting ceremony, celebrating the nation’s resilient journey, honoring its founding father and reaffirming the time-tested strength of the Pakistan-US partnership.
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Washington, DC: As negotiations between the United States and Iran have failed to reach a peace agreement while the war passes the six-month mark, alliances in the Middle East and Gulf region are changing. To discuss the growing relationships among Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Pakistan, and potentially Egypt, and how defense ties, diplomacy and strategic interests may be linking them more closely together, the Gulf International Forum (GIF) hosted a webinar on August 13, 2026.
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“The discussion today aims to examine the legal facets of the Kashmir dispute, including its linkage with the Indus Waters Treaty, which has geographical, political, and economic implications,” Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Sheikh said Washington, DC: The Embassy of Pakistan commemorated “Youm-e-Istechal” (Exploitation Day) on August 5, 2026, with a webinar titled “Contemporary Challenges to International Law in South Asia: Jammu and Kashmir Dispute and the Indus Waters Treaty.” The program marked...
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Minister Iqbal shared Pakistan's intention to benefit from internationally recognized models of academic medicine and integrated healthcare systems, noting that such experiences could provide valuable insights for the development of Pakistan's emerging medical institutions Washington, DC: As part of his visit to the United States beginning July 5, 2026, Pakistani Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal visited the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) to...
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(Left to right): Mohammed Jamjoom, Sidddharth Varada Rajan, Michael Kugelman, and Zeeshan Salahuddin Washington, DC: The Indus Water Treaty, signed in 1960, which delineates how the river’s resources are to be shared between India and Pakistan, was recently put to the test after New Delhi suspended its participation following the April 2025 attack in India-administered Kashmir that India claims was carried out by armed groups linked to Pakistan which Pakistan has denied.
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Palo Alto, CA: With relations between the United States and the European Union as tense as they’ve been for decades, Lt Gen HR McMaster (ret), former US national security advisor, author of Battlegrounds: The Fight to Defend the Free World and currently a senior fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution, engaged Norbert Röttgen, deputy chairman of Germany’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party and member of the German Bundestag, on the future of NATO, the European Union and...
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Barbara Slavin Lara Friedman Trita Parsi Ahmed Moor Washington, DC: The ongoing negotiations between Iran and the United States, along with Washington’s changing relations with Israel, was the topic of a June 23, 2026, webinar co-hosted by the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft and the Foundation for Middle East Peace, moderated by Ahmed Moor, a fellow at the Foundation.
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Washington, DC: In a befitting prelude to the global football season, the Embassy of Pakistan organized the Diplomatic Trionda Cup 2026 on June 11. The friendly soccer tournament, held exactly three hours prior to the official opening ceremony of the FIFA World Cup 2026, served as a distinguished gathering celebrating friendship, unity, sportsmanship and diplomatic camaraderie. The event formed an important part of the ongoing series commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States.
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Pakistan is an ancient civilization, Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Sheikh said, but not a backward one. “We have always nurtured the spirit of knowledge, broad-mindedness, and liberalism. Creative talents build strong bridges between different civilizations and nations.” Washington, DC: The Pakistani Embassy presented the EuroAsia Shorts 2026 Film Festival at its embassy on June 10, 2026, in collaboration with Alliance Française.
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\ Washington, DC: As tensions escalate between the United States and Iran, the issue of Iranian oil security was the main topic on the February 6, 2026, episode of Energy Shots, a biweekly 30-minute online program telling energy stories through data, personalities and politics, at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).
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Washington, DC: Every year on Kashmir Solidarity Day, the Pakistani people express heartfelt attachment to their Kashmiri brothers and sisters who are struggling to obtain moral, diplomatic and political support in pursuit of their right to self-determination, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, Ambassador of Pakistan to the United States, said in a special webinar at the Embassy of Pakistan on February 5, 2026.
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Top, left: Alex Vatanka; right: Nazee Moinian; Bottom: Hamidreza Azizi Washington, DC: Nazee Moinian, associate fellow at the Middle East Institute, hosted Alex Vatanka, founding director of Iranian studies at the Institute, and Hamidreza Azizi, visiting fellow at Berlin’s German Institute for International Security Studies, on February 3, 2026, to discuss Iran’s domestic and foreign crises.
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Evan Cooper (right) and Don Davis Christopher Preble Lindsay Sarah Krasnoff and Troy Vincent Rachel Stohl Washington, DC: American football has arguably been called “the most popular thing in America,” Rachel Stohl, senior vice president of research programs at the Stimson Center, told the audience in opening remarks at the Center’s January 13, 2026, program.
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An Eye Witness to History Muslims, Christians, Hindus & Sikhs Break Bread Together Future Agenda of American Muslims CAIR Open Letter to Muslims on the November 2 Elections Facts, Principles & Law on the Side of the Kashmiris How Small Businesses Can Save Money on Energy Bill Begum Sumroo Draws Curious Crowds Conference on Pakistan at Johns Hopkins University First Muslim Speaker at AARP Convention Political Maturity of Pakistani Americans Lauded November 03, 2004 Pressing Need for Interfaith...
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Dalia Dassa Kaye Barbara Slavin Ryan Crocker Washington, DC: Since US airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear sites in June 2025, relations between the two countries have been at a standstill with the Russia-Ukraine conflict, along with Israel, Gaza, Lebanon and Venezuela, being foremost for the attention of Donald J Trump’s foreign policy team.
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Interacting with the enthusiastic crowd eager to view the Pakistani souk-like stalls with holiday shopping on their minds, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, Ambassador of Pakistan to the United States, shared his views on the positive trajectory ad ascendant significance of his country’s long-standing relationship with the United States Washington, DC: The Embassy of Pakistan presented Pakistani culture, arts and craftsmanship at the 12th Annual Winternational Embassy Showcase held at the Ronald Reagan...
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Addressing the delegation, Ambassador Sheikh highlighted the positive trajectory of Pakistan-US relations and ongoing efforts geared to strengthening trade and investment ties for the mutual benefit of both nations Washington, DC: “Pakistan presents profitable opportunities for US entrepreneurs, particularly in the fast-growing and lucrative IT, energy and minerals sectors,” Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, Ambassador of Pakistan to the United States, told a delegation from the Yale School of...
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HR McMaster Ali Ansari Washington, DC: On his December 4, 2025, Battlegrounds program, Lt Gen HR McMaster (retd), former US national security advisor and currently a senior fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution, hosted Ali Ansari, professor at the School of History, University of St Andrews, for a discussion on Iranian history and what comes next for the Islamic Republic.
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Congratulating the participants on joining the prestigious program, Ambassador Sheikh highlighted the current upswing in Pakistan-US relations, emphasizing complementarities and prospects for cooperation in the new economy and IT sectors Washington, DC: Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, Ambassador of Pakistan to the United States, held an engaging meeting on November 21, 2025, with a group of emerging Pakistani entrepreneurs visiting the United States on the Professional Fellows Program on Economic...
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(Top row, left to right): Marvin Weinbaum, Arif Ansar, and Craig Karp. (Bottom row, left to right): David Sedney, Javid Ahmed, and Joshua White Washington, DC: As relations between the Taliban rulers in Afghanistan and the government of Pakistan have deteriorated dramatically in the past few months, the Middle East Institute (MEI), together with the strategic advisory firm PoliTact, hosted a discussion on this issue in Washington on November 13, 2025.
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Focusing on foreign relations, emerging tech, and building bridges, the event featured candid discussions and audience Q&A moderated by PSA leaders.
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Washington, DC: Wrapping up his successful visit to Washington for the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, Pakistan's Federal Minister of Finance and Revenue Muhammad Aurangzeb held a briefing at the Atlantic Council on October16, 2025.
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Washington, DC: Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, Ambassador of Pakistan to the United States, welcomed Tariq Karim, Consul General of Pakistan in Chicago, for a farewell visit at the embassy on October 11, 2025, as Karim embarks on his new assignment as Pakistan’s ambassador to Myanmar. Ambassador Sheikh praised the outgoing Consul General’s dedicated and standard-setting service to Pakistan and the Pakistani-American community in the Midwestern United States.
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(Left to right): Mark Lippert, Sid Syler, Amb Harry Harris, and Amb Daniel Kritenbrink Washington, DC: US President Donald J Trump and President Xi Jinping of China held a highly anticipated phone call on September 18, 2025. Among other issues, the two leaders discussed trade, the future of TikTok and plans to meet in October at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in South Korea.
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Top, left to right): Frederick Starr, Sanat Kushkumbayev. (Bottom, left to right): Svante Cornell, Amb Javlon Vakhabov Washington, DC: Over the past year, the Central Asian countries have experienced a profusion of significant changes, including creating closer ties among themselves.
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Washington, DC: As the global security landscape is changing, particularly in light of Russia’s war on Ukraine, many countries are assessing their own vulnerability. Taiwan, in particular, is focusing on updating and improving its strategic deterrence and defense posture as it faces an existential threat from China.
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Washington, DC: Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a landmark peace agreement in a meeting with President Donald J Trump at the White House on August 8, 2025. The two South Caucasus neighbors have engaged in conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, an ethnically Armenian enclave inside Azerbaijan, since the 1980s. The second war over the small area ended in 2020 and Azerbaijan took back full control of the region in 2023.
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August 01 , 2025 By Elaine Pasquini Washington, DC: In a landmark development, Pakistan and the United States finalized a trade agreement on July 30, 2025, aimed at boosting bilateral trade, expanding market access, attracting investment, and fostering cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
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July 25, 2025 Dar Calls for “Justice, Freedom, Dignity and a State” for Palestinians By Elaine Pasquini Washington, DC: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar arrived in New York City on July 21, 2025. During his eight-day visit he held high-level events under Pakistan’s presidency of the UN Security Council, along with bi-lateral and multilateral meetings in New York and Washington, DC.
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Washington, DC: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar arrived in New York City on July 21, 2025. During his eight-day visit he held high-level events under Pakistan’s presidency of the UN Security Council, along with bi-lateral and multilateral meetings in New York and Washington, DC. In addition, the minister represented Pakistan at the International Conference to discuss Palestinian statehood and a two-state solution co-hosted by Saudi Arabia and France.
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Mehmet II at the fortress of Scutari on the façade of the former Scuola degli Albenesi in the Campo S. Maurizio. Venice: The influence of the magnificent world of Near Eastern Islamic art on the magical city of Venice motivated me and my photographer husband to seek out the art – in situ – inspired by the Islamic world in this canal-laden city. Beginning in the ninth century, Venetian merchants became regular trading partners with their counterparts in the Near East.
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Washington, DC: A high-level parliamentary delegation from Pakistan, led by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Chairman of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and former foreign minister of Pakistan, reaffirmed their country’s commitment to peace, dialogue and regional stability during meetings with US Congressional leaders on June 4, 2025.
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June 13 , 2025 By Elaine Pasquini Washington, DC: A high-level parliamentary delegation from Pakistan, led by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Chairman of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and former foreign minister of Pakistan, reaffirmed their country’s commitment to peace, dialogue and regional stability during meetings with US Congressional leaders on June 4, 2025.
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Washington, DC: Addressing American business leaders, policymakers and diplomats on May 29, 2025, at the World Trade Center in Washington, DC, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, Ambassador of Pakistan to the United States, highlighted the economic opportunities and “addictive” profitability of the Pakistani market. The success of over 80 US multinational companies in Pakistan for the past several decades, he said, clearly reflects the country’s profitability and potential as a regional trade hub.
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New York City: The Consulate General of Pakistan in New York and the Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the United Nations, in collaboration with the Office of the Manhattan District Attorney, hosted a landmark cultural exhibition titled “Whispers from Gandhara – Showcase of Gandhara Civilization and Buddhist Heritage of Pakistan” on May 22, 2025.
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Washington, DC: Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine three years ago, interest in the Trans-Caspian region has greatly increased, fueled in part by its vast supply of critical minerals and energy, Efgan Nifti, president of the Caspian Policy Center (CPC), told an online audience in a May 21, 2025, webinar. In the last few months, he noted, the region has seen a flurry of diplomatic engagement in the region with visits by officials from the EU, China, Russia and the Gulf.
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May 02, 2025 By Elaine Pasquini Washington, DC: The inaugural Harvard Pakistan Conference was held April 27, 2025, at Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts. The flagship Conference brought together a distinguished gathering of policymakers, academics, entrepreneurs and students to deliberate on Pakistan’s economic prospects, governance reforms and evolving role in global affairs.
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Eric Rudenshiold Ambassador William Courtney Washington: The Central Asia Program at George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs hosted a well-attended program on April 29, 2025, about the geopolitical shifts in Central Asia and the region’s quest for autonomy and sustainability.
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Left to right: Gilbert Rozman, Yun Sun, and Sergey Radchenko Washington, DC: Relations between China and Russia are presently a popular topic among think tanks and policy institutes, along with how the United States fits into this relationship. Increasingly, US-China relations are becoming more competitive, while Beijing and Moscow grow closer.
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June 06 , 2025 By Elaine Pasquini Washington, DC: After leading a Pakistani delegation to Kabul on April 19, 2025, Ishaq Dar, deputy prime minister and foreign minister of Pakistan, posted on his X account that Pakistan-Afghanistan relations were on a “positive trajectory” and that “to maintain this momentum, I am pleased to announce the decision of the Government of Pakistan to upgrade the level of its Chargé d’Affaires in Kabul to the level of Ambassador.” He went on to state his confidence...
Engaging Youth Activists Benefits Climate Change Efforts in MENA : Indybay
Climate change is a growing concern worldwide with experts struggling to find solutions every day. Funding in this area is dire for many countries, especially since the Donald Trump administration's recent cuts to USAID, which had been one of the main contributors to climate change efforts in the Middle East-North Africa (MENA) region.
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In a flag-raising ceremony at the Pakistan Embassy in Washington, DC, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, Ambassador of Pakistan to the United States, extended his heartfelt congratulations to all Pakistanis living in the United States and around the globe US Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) was among many Americans sending well-wishes to Pakistan on this special day The Pakistan Embassy in Paris celebrated the historic day with a flag-raising ceremony at its legation in the heart of the French capital.
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New York City: In a landmark acknowledgment of the invaluable contributions of the Pakistani-American community, the New York State Assembly and Senate adopted two significant resolutions, proclaiming March 23, 2025, as “Pakistan-American Heritage Day,” and March 19, 2025, as “Pakistani-American Business Celebration Day” in the state of New York.
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Washington: Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States Rizwan Saeed Sheikh presented his credentials as Non-Resident High Commissioner-Designate of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to the Commonwealth of the Bahamas to Governor General, Her Excellency, the Most Honorable Dame Cynthia A. Pratt, ON, GCMG, on Monday, March 17, 2025.
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Washington: Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, Ambassador of Pakistan to the United States, celebrated the holy month of Ramadan (Ramzan) with a special iftar – the meal after sunset that concludes Muslims’ daylong fast – at Pakistan House, on March 12, 2025.
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Terming the Urdu language a “national asset,” Ambassador Sheikh urged Pakistani community members to promote and make future generations aware of Urdu literature and Pakistan’s rich cultural heritage Washington: Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, Ambassador of Pakistan to the United States, was the guest of honor at a special event honoring Urdu poet Asadullah Khan Ghalib on February 24, 2025.
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New York: Muhammad Ishaq Dar, deputy prime minister and foreign minister of Pakistan, addressed the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on February 18, 2025, on the subject “Practicing Multilateralism: Reforming and Improving Global Governance.” Pakistan is currently a non-permanent member of the 15-member UNSC for the term 2025-2026.
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