On October 16,  the Truman Center for National Policy, convened diplomats and experts from both countries, moderated by Truman Political Partner Laurie Watkins. The panel brought together former Assistant Secretary of State Amb. Robin Raphel, the Stimson Center’s Col. David O. Smith (Ret.), Hudson Institute’s Dr. Patrick Cronin, and Pakistan’s Deputy Chief of Mission Dr. Mariam Saaed, with former Pakistani ambassadors Munir Akram and Masood Khan joining virtually.

The common thread across American and Pakistani voices alike: a relationship built on personal chemistry and security cooperation won’t last, and it’s time to institutionalize it through trade, education, and people-to-people ties. Col. Smith made the case with one number. Plenty of Pakistani Fulbright scholars study in the U.S.; the number of American Fulbrighters in Pakistan is zero.

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