By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in Washington on Friday, praising Pakistan’s role in advancing “global and regional peace” and signaling a renewed commitment to strengthening U.S.-Pakistan ties.
In their first face-to-face meeting, Rubio highlighted Pakistan’s “everlasting sacrifices in the war on terror,” according to Pakistan’s Foreign Office. “Pakistan has always played a positive role in global and regional peace,” Rubio said. The talks, the first in-person meeting between the two leaders who had previously spoken by phone, covered a broad agenda, including trade, counter-terrorism, and regional stability.
Dar, in response, hailed President Donald Trump and the U.S. leadership for their “commendable” efforts in promoting global peace, particularly in addressing recent tensions between Pakistan and India. “Pakistan and the US seek further expansion and stability in bilateral relations,” he said, signaling optimism about ongoing trade negotiations.
The discussions delved into potential cooperation in key sectors such as investment, agriculture, technology, and minerals, alongside a shared focus on counter-terrorism and regional peace, the Foreign Office said. “Pakistan is an attractive destination for the American business community and investors,” Dar was quoted as saying in the statement. He also highlighted the Pakistani diaspora in the United States, saying, “The Pakistani community in the U.S. is playing a bridge role between the two countries.”
Later in a post on the social media X Dar said he had a comprehensive discussion on the full spectrum of bilateral relations with Secretary Rubio. “We reaffirmed our commitment to the long term Pakistan-US partnership, with renewed focus on economic, trade, investment, IT/AI and CT cooperation,” Dar added. “We also exchanged views on key regional and global developments. I appreciated the U.S. constructive role in facilitating the recent Pakistan-India ceasefire.”
Both the countries reaffirmed the importance of close coordination at multilateral fora, including at the UN Security Council. “With continued dialogue and mutual respect, I am confident we can build a more stable, prosperous, and mutually beneficial future for both our nations.”
Dar’s visit to Washington marks the second leg of an eight-day US trip that began in New York, where he attended events tied to Pakistan’s presidency of the United Nations Security Council this month, its first since 2013. Arriving in the US capital Thursday night, he was greeted by Pakistan’s Ambassador to the US, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, and senior embassy officials.
In New York earlier this week, Dar participated in “high-level signature events,” including a conference on Palestine, reflecting Pakistan’s active role on the global stage. Speaking at a reception hosted by Pakistan’s U.N. Mission on Wednesday, he called for “inclusive dialogue and cooperative diplomacy over confrontation” amid rising global turbulence, asserting that Pakistan’s leadership has been guided by these principles during its Security Council tenure.
That tenure has already borne fruit. Under Pakistan’s presidency, the U.N. Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2788, a Pakistani-sponsored measure urging stronger international mechanisms for resolving disputes peacefully. Dar also announced Pakistan’s bid for a seat on the U.N. Human Rights Council for the 2026-2028 term, backed by the Asia-Pacific Group—a move that follows its previous term from 2020 to 2023.
Beyond his meeting with Rubio, Dar is slated to address The Atlantic Council, a leading U.S. think tank, where he will outline Pakistan’s views on regional and global challenges and the future of U.S.-Pakistan relations. The speech is expected to reinforce the themes of cooperation and stability that dominated his talks with Rubio.
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