ISLAMABAD: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed hope for Pakistan’s economic recovery during a conversation with Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Tuesday, reiterating Washington’s support for a “productive, democratic, and prosperous” partnership with the South Asian country.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved a $3 billion bailout standby agreement for Pakistan on July 12, helping the country avoid imminent sovereign default. Facing an acute balance of payments crisis amid mounting debt, a weak currency and depleting reserves, Pakistan had sought critical support from Washington, Riyadh, Abu Dhabi and Beijing to secure the much-needed funds from the IMF.

Earlier this month, US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller, when questioned whether his country had played a part in helping Pakistan secure the IMF deal, stressed Washington stood by Pakistanis during their economic hardships and said America’s support for Pakistan’s economic success is “unwavering.”

“The United States supports a productive, democratic, and prosperous partnership with Pakistan,” Blinken wrote in a Twitter post early Tuesday morning. “Had a good call with Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to discuss our support for Pakistan’s economic recovery and our shared regional concerns, including Afghanistan.”

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said the two leaders noted the positive momentum of Pakistan-US relations during their conversation over the phone, agreeing to remain “constructively engaged” to promote peace, security and development.

Once close allies during the Cold War era and after the September 11, 2001 attacks, ties between Washington and Islamabad deteriorated during former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s tenure, who was a strident opponent of America’s war on terror and Pakistan’s partnership in that war with the US. The Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021 further soured relations between the two countries over Pakistan’s alleged support for the Taliban.