Karachi-born US presidential candidate Chris Van Hollen recalls his Pakistan ties

Born in Karachi, raised with ties to Pakistan

According to his official biography on Maryland Manual Online, a website run by the Maryland state government, Van Hollen was born in Karachi in 1959. His father was an American foreign service officer.

Van Hollen spoke about his connection with Pakistan in a video message released on the country’s Independence Day last year. He said he felt proud to celebrate Pakistan’s 79th Independence Day.

“I am proud to join you in celebrating Pakistan’s 79th Independence Day. I am fortunate to have a special connection with Pakistan, having been born in Karachi as the son of an American foreign service officer.

“Throughout my life, I have experienced first hand the generosity, the goodness and the determination of the Pakistani people. I am proud to celebrate the strong people-to-people ties between the our two countries […] I look forward to further strengthening the ties of friendship between the Amercians and the Pakistani people,” he said in a short message.

Van Hollen praises Pakistan’s support

Van Hollen also acknowledged Pakistan’s role in helping evacuate American citizens and other people from Afghanistan in 2021. The evacuation took place after the Taliban took control of the country.

He thanked Pakistan and several other countries for their assistance during the difficult operation. His remarks highlighted Pakistan’s role in helping people leave Afghanistan safely.

Education and political career

Apart from Pakistan, Van Hollen also spent time in India, where he studied at Kodaikanal International School in Tamil Nadu. He later studied philosophy at Swarthmore College and earned a master’s degree in public policy from Harvard University.

He also completed a Juris Doctor degree at Georgetown University and joined the Maryland Bar in 1990. He entered the US Senate in January 2017 after serving in the US House of Representatives from 2003 to 2017.

2028 presidential ambitions

Following the Republicans’ major defeat in the recent midterm elections, Van Hollen was discussed as a possible candidate for the position of Senate majority leader. However, he rejected the idea of becoming the next Democratic leader.

Speaking to Fox 5, he said he was not interested in taking that position and had been considering a possible presidential campaign in 2028. His remarks have increased attention on his political future.

Van Hollen’s birth in Karachi gives him a personal link with Pakistan that few American politicians share. His possible 2028 presidential campaign could bring further attention to his background and his views on relations between the two countries.

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