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WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that Washington sees “an opportunity to expand its strategic relationship with Pakistan,” stressing that this engagement is not at the expense of America’s friendship with India.
During a press briefing, Secretary Rubio was asked if India had expressed concern over Washington’s growing strategic engagement and stronger ties with Pakistan.
“They really haven’t — I mean, we know they’re concerned for obvious reasons because of the tensions that have existed between Pakistan and India historically,” he said, according to the transcript of the briefing on the State Department’s website.
He noted that India needs to understand that the US needs to maintain relations with multiple partners.
“We see an opportunity to expand our strategic relationship with Pakistan,” Rubio said, adding that this was part of Washington’s broader policy of working with nations where common interests align.
He reiterated that the US’ evolving ties with Pakistan would not undermine its relationship with India, which he described as “deep, historic and important.”
Asked whether the ties stemmed from Islamabad’s appreciation of Washington’s role in helping avert a potential war between India and Pakistan, Rubio said the renewed engagement with Pakistan had begun even before the conflict, as the US had expressed interest in rebuilding a “strategic partnership” with Islamabad.
He noted that both sides had a long history of cooperation, particularly in counterterrorism, and that Washington was keen to expand the relationship beyond security issues.
“But I think it’s a very encouraging thing that that relationship has strengthened as it has, and I don’t think it comes at the cost or in place of a good relationship with India, or anyone else for that matter,” he added.
The statement comes against the backdrop of an improved relationship between the two countries after a prolonged diplomatic cold snap.
An early breakthrough came in March when Pakistan’s intelligence services extradited an Islamic State Khorasan operative accused of orchestrating a 2021 Kabul bombing that killed 180 people, including 13 American soldiers.
Later, US President Donald Trump brokered a ceasefire between Pakistan and India after both countries engaged in a military showdown in May 2025, the worst between the old enemies in decades. Citing its role in easing tensions between neighboring countries, Pakistan recommended Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Meanwhile, the US President has always praised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir on several occasions.
