Yale hosts first Pakistan conference

WASHINGTON: The inaugural Ivy Future of Pakistan Conference at Yale University brought together students from Ivy League institutions, including Harvard, Cornell, and Princeton, with academics, policymakers and diplomats to showcase Pakistan’s pivotal role in global diplomacy and the Pakistani diaspora’s contributions to US society.

The event featured addresses by prominent speakers, including former Pakistan Ambassador Ali Jehangir Siddiqui, alongside a panel of foreign policy experts exploring international partnerships. In the context of Pakistan, Siddiqui stressed that the country must frame its diplomatic engagement around tangible contributions, including supply-chain partnerships and continued cooperation in counterterrorism, which remain essential to the broader bilateral equation. He stated that Pakistan has to strengthen its global standing by forging mutually beneficial ties with major powers, reinforcing its position as a key player in diplomacy.

Addressing the audience, Ambassador Siddiqui called for greater representation of Pakistani Americans in US public institutions.

He acknowledged significant progress, citing the election of Pakistani Americans as mayors and state senators in recent years, but stressed that sustained engagement is critical. “It’s about American citizens of Pakistani heritage securing a voice in the decisions that shape their lives,” Siddiqui said.

The conference served as a platform to advance dialogue on governance and diplomacy, strengthening US-Pakistan ties through collaboration and the diaspora’s shared contributions.