Islamabad:
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar told US Secretary of State Marco Rubio that Pakistan sought “expanded and stable” bilateral relationship with Washington and highlighted “strong convergers” between the two sides on more questions.
Dar held talks with Rubio in Washington in a first face to face-to-face meeting between the top two diplomats on the Ministry of State after their multiple telephone conversations.
This was the first formal meeting at the level of foreign ministers between Pakistan and the United States after several years, when former administration under President Joe Biden completely ignored Islamabad.
The meeting between Dar and Rubio came on the basis of renewed push from the two sides to reset their ties, often destroyed by distrust. Unlike all expectations, during President Trump’s second period, the relationship between the two countries started to a positive start.
It was Pakistan’s help in arresting and extraditing one of Masterminds in Kabul Airport attacks in August 2021 that led to the ribbon to the United States. President Trump praised publicly Pakistan’s efforts at his first address to the US Congress.
The India-Pakistan conflict brought closer to the two countries as Trump repeatedly took credit for mediating the ceasefire between the two South Asian rivals.
Then in the middle of the Iran-Israel war, President Trump hosted Field Marskalk Syed Asim Munir in the White House in an unprecedented move that raised the eyebrows in New Delhi.
After the Army Chief’s lunch meeting in the White House, there have been increased contacts between the two countries. The Washington meeting on Friday was seen as Pakistan’s push to revive the structured mechanism between the two countries.
A statement from the Foreign Office said upon arrival at the State Department, Dar was received by senior US officials. Pakistan’s ambassador to the United States, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, accompanied him during the visit. Senior officials from both sides also joined the delegation level conversations.
The discussions focused on bilateral connections and prospects of collaboration across several sectors, including trade, investment, agriculture, technology and minerals. Both sides underwent progress in the ongoing trade dialogue in Pakistan-US and expressed optimism over positive development. Dar highlighted Pakistan as an attractive destination for US companies and investors.
About regional security, leaders discussed terrorism and wider peace efforts. Dar praised President Donald Trump and US leadership for their efforts to promote global peace, especially appreciating the president’s role in the midst of recent Pakistan-India tensions.
Secretary Rubio recognized Pakistan’s victims in the fight against terrorism and appreciated its positive role in promoting regional and global peace.
Later in his message on X, the US Secretary of State said: “Meeted with Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar today to discuss the expansion of bilateral trade and strengthen cooperation in the critical mineral sector. I also thanked him for Pakistan’s partnership in countering terrorism and preserving regional stability.”
Dar confirmed Pakistan’s desire for extended and stable bilateral connections and emphasized that there is a strong convergence of views and common interests between the two countries of regional peace and stability. He also appreciated the role of Pakistani-American society as a “bridge” between the two nations.
Both leaders repeated their obligation to further strengthen bilateral ties and improve institutional cooperation in various sectors and expressed determination to work together on long -term stability and prosperity.
