Pakistan seeks early launch of direct flights to US amid improved ties | The Express Tribune

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said on Friday that the government is keen to see the early launch of direct flights between Pakistan and the United States, adding that bilateral relations are rooted in mutual trust and cooperation.

The interior minister met with the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Paul Kapur, alongside US Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry and the federal interior secretary, according to an official statement.

Both sides reviewed bilateral relations and exchanged views on the latest situation in the Middle East, the statement said.

The minister’s remarks come after Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) resumed its direct services to London earlier this year, ending a six-year suspension. The airline confirmed on March 29 that its inaugural flight had departed from Islamabad.

PIA also announced that direct flights from Lahore to London would be introduced.

Naqvi observed that Pakistan-US relations had strengthened during President Donald Trump’s tenure, describing the ties between the two nations as based on mutual trust and bilateral cooperation.

The interior minister also stated that Pakistan had ensured “foolproof security” for American companies working on the Reko Diq mining project in southwestern Balochistan province.

In February, the United States earmarked $1.3 billion for the Reko Diq copper and gold mining project, aimed at supporting the extraction of mineral reserves in Balochistan. Construction work has already commenced at the mining site, and commercial production is expected to begin in 2028.

Read: Investment-to-GDP ratio hits 14.4%

Discussing regional developments, Naqvi said he remained hopeful for a lasting and peaceful resolution to the Middle East conflict. Kapur also praised Pakistan’s role in promoting peace and stability in the region

Pakistan had brokered a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran on April 8, followed by critical talks in Islamabad attended by senior delegations from both countries on April 11 and 12. However, neither side was able to reach an agreement to bring the conflict to an end.

Since then, the two sides have been exchanging proposals and counter-proposals in an effort to reach a middle ground and resume a second round of direct talks aimed at ending the conflict, which has already disrupted global energy supplies and daily life across the region.