Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar arrived in Washington on Thursday night, marking the second leg of his eight-day visit to the United States.
Upon arrival, he was received by Pakistan’s Ambassador to the US, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, along with senior embassy officials. During his stay in Washington, Dar is scheduled to meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the Department of State. This will be his first official meeting with Secretary Rubio.
The meeting is expected to focus on key aspects of Pakistan-US relations, with particular emphasis on enhancing trade, investment, and economic cooperation. Dar will also deliver an address at the Atlantic Council, a prominent US think tank, where he will present Pakistan’s views on regional and global affairs, as well as the future trajectory of bilateral ties with the United States.
US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce confirmed the upcoming meeting, noting that senior officials from both sides will attend, including herself.
Meanwhile, a Pakistani delegation is also expected to hold discussions with Trump administration officials in Washington, aimed at finalizing a trade agreement, Bloomberg reported, citing Tammy Bruce. She told reporters at a press briefing on Wednesday that she would participate in those talks.
Pakistan is seeking relief from the 29% reciprocal tariffs imposed during the ‘Liberation Day’ announcement earlier in April. As part of ongoing negotiations, Pakistan — already the second-largest importer of US cotton after China — has proposed increasing its imports of American cotton and soybeans.
The United States remains Pakistan’s largest export market, with a trade surplus of approximately \$3 billion in 2024. Diplomatic ties between Washington and Islamabad have seen notable improvement in recent months. US President Donald Trump recently extended an invitation to Pakistan’s Army Chief and Field Marshal Asim Munir for high-level talks at the White House — a rare gesture signaling growing strategic engagement.
The Foreign Office, in a statement issued on July 19, described Dar’s visit as a reflection of Pakistan’s expanding diplomatic footprint in both multilateral forums and bilateral relations with the United States.
Separately, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb also held talks in Washington with US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, as part of the ongoing trade negotiations. According to the Ministry of Finance and reports by Reuters, both sides expressed satisfaction over the progress made in strengthening economic and trade ties — a key pillar of the Pakistan-US relationship.
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