By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the United States pledged on Monday to expand cooperation on trade, counterterrorism, and regional security during the first phone call between Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Foreign Office (FO) said.
In a statement, the Foreign Office said Dar, who also serves as deputy prime minister, and Rubio discussed bolstering bilateral ties, with both sides emphasising economic collaboration in sectors like “critical minerals” and addressing shared concerns over Afghanistan’s stability.
“During the call, DPM/FM Dar reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with the United States… He emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation in areas such as trade, investment and counter-terrorism.”
The FO added that Rubio reciprocated Dar’s wish for greater trade and investment in various sectors. “Cooperation in economy and trade will be the hallmark of future relations between the two countries,” Rubio said, according to the statement.
Dar highlighted Pakistan’s counterterrorism efforts between 2013 and 2018, with Rubio appreciating Pakistan’s fight against terrorism and expressing the US’s “desire to further enhance counterterrorism cooperation”.
The two also agreed on resolving the status of American military equipment abandoned in Afghanistan after the chaotic 2021 withdrawal. Taliban forces seized the assets, which a 2022 Pentagon report said included weapons, vehicles, and surveillance gear.
“DPM/FM Dar and Secretary of State Rubio agreed to remain in close contact and to work together to advance the shared interests of both countries,” the statement concluded.
The call comes as Pakistan seeks to reset economic relations strained by recent tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump, including a 29 percent levy on Pakistani imports. Nearly 20 percent of Pakistan’s exports go to the US, its largest trade surplus partner, and key market of the country’s textile goods.
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb announced Saturday that Islamabad will dispatch a delegation to Washington to renegotiate terms. “Never let a good crisis go to waste. This is both a challenge and an opportunity,” he told reporters.
Copyright © 2021 Independent Pakistan | All rights reserved
