Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington on Friday, marking a significant high-level engagement between Pakistan and the United States after a period of diplomatic cooling.
Relations between Islamabad and Washington have notably improved in recent months. A key turning point was the warm reception given to Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir, by former U.S. President Donald Trump during a visit to the White House last month.
Upon arrival at the U.S. State Department, Minister Dar was received with cordiality. Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, was also present. The meeting was held at the delegation level and included senior officials from both sides.
A wide range of topics were discussed, including bilateral relations, enhanced cooperation in trade, economic development, investment, counterterrorism, and regional stability. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening ties and agreed to pursue shared goals in multiple sectors.
Minister Dar commended President Trump’s diplomatic efforts in defusing tensions between Pakistan and India, describing his role as commendable. He expressed Pakistan’s desire for deeper, more stable relations with the United States.
Secretary Rubio acknowledged Pakistan’s tremendous sacrifices in the global fight against terrorism and lauded the country’s constructive contributions to regional and international peace.
Dar also expressed optimism over the progress in trade negotiations, highlighting growing alignment in both nations’ interests, particularly regarding regional stability. He noted that the Pakistani-American community continues to serve as an essential bridge between the two nations.
During Field Marshal Munir’s earlier meeting with President Trump, the two leaders discussed a broad agenda, including trade, economic development, natural resources, artificial intelligence, energy, cryptocurrency, and emerging technologies.
The meeting took place shortly after a military confrontation between Pakistan and India. In recognition of Trump’s role in brokering peace, Pakistan nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Speaking to the press, President Trump said it was an “honour” to meet Field Marshal Munir and emphasized that he invited the Pakistani military chief to personally thank him for helping end the conflict.
While Islamabad has repeatedly praised Trump’s mediation and credited him with averting further escalation, India has consistently denied any U.S. involvement. Nonetheless, President Trump has stood by his claims and reiterated his willingness to mediate the longstanding Kashmir dispute — a position echoed by the U.S. State Department.
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