Community

On August 20th 2017, the Council of Pakistan-American Affairs (COPAA) held an event to celebrate 70 years of Pakistan-US Friendship at the Long Beach Marriott in Southern California. Over 200 guests were present on the occasion, including the advisory board and several founding members of COPAA.
Also gracing the occasion were the Consul General of Pakistan in Los Angeles Abdul Jabbar Memon, Senator Tony Mendoza, Deputy Chief Horace Frank, Los Angeles County Sheriff Jim McDonnell, California State Treasurer John Chiang, Mayor of Artesia Ali Sajjad Taj, David Karl (expert in Pakistan US foreign policy), and representatives from Congressman Ted Lieu, Congresswoman Judy Chu, and Congressman Ed Royce.

COPAA’s newly elected president Nighat Kardar started the proceedings with a brief history of COPAA. She paid tributes to the founders of the Council who had the foresight and vision to define what was needed to be done for the well-being of Pakistani Americans in the years to come. She shed light on the mission of COPAA: to work alongside policy makers for the betterment of Pakistani Americans - today and in the future.
Speaking on the occasion, Consul General Abdul Jabbar Memon dwelt at length on Pakistan-US ties.
Mr Memon shared that Pakistan has always been a staunch supporter of the US and wholeheartedly collaborated with the US when Afghanistan was invaded and after 9/11. Pakistan has lost 17,000 precious lives in the war against terror.

Senator Tony Mendoza, who was instrumental in the adoption of the Pakistan Resolution in the California House Senate, Sheriff Jim McDonnell and Deputy Chief Horace Frank also addressed the gathering. They stressed the important role played by Pakistan in the war on terror and commended the country for the support it provided to the United States of America.
David Karl, who delivered the keynote address, started off with a quote most appropriate for Pakistan: “she is tossed by the waves, but does not sink.” His remark was greeted with a thunderous applause. Karl then proceeded to ask the guests if today’s Pakistan is the Pakistan envisioned by the founding fathers, Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Liaquat Ali Khan. Had they been alive would it be the same Pakistan that we see today? he asked.