Washington, July 25, 2025: In a rare high-level diplomatic engagement, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday lauded Pakistan’s “unmatched sacrifices” in the war on terror during a meeting with Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar at the State Department.
The 40-minute meeting — the first between Rubio and Dar — marked a thaw in relations following years of strained ties between Washington and Islamabad. The visit follows last month’s landmark meeting between US President Donald Trump and Field Marshal Asim Munir, Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, at the White House.
In the delegation-level talks attended by senior officials from both sides, the two countries discussed a wide range of bilateral and regional issues, including counterterrorism, trade, economic cooperation, investment, and regional stability.
Rubio acknowledged Pakistan’s crucial role in promoting regional and global peace, while Dar reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to fostering a deeper, more stable relationship with the United States.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to the US, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, was also present during the meeting. Dar expressed appreciation for President Trump’s efforts in de-escalating tensions between Pakistan and India, calling his role “commendable.”
Dar highlighted ongoing progress in trade negotiations, noting that both sides share aligned interests in regional peace and economic cooperation. He also emphasized the role of the Pakistani diaspora in strengthening people-to-people ties between the two nations.
In March, the US State Department underscored the importance of continued US-Pakistan cooperation on counterterrorism, particularly following Pakistan’s extradition of Daesh-K operative Sharifullah, who is now on trial in Washington for his alleged role in the 2021 Kabul airport bombing.
The improving ties have been further reinforced by President Trump’s meeting with COAS Munir last month, where discussions spanned trade, mineral development, energy, artificial intelligence, cryptocurrency, and emerging technologies.
That meeting came in the aftermath of a brief armed conflict between Pakistan and India, prompting Pakistan to formally nominate President Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in facilitating the ceasefire.
Trump later told journalists that he had the “honour” of meeting Field Marshal Munir, saying the purpose of the invitation was to personally thank him for helping end the war with India. While Pakistan has consistently credited Trump for the ceasefire, India has denied any US involvement, maintaining that the matter was resolved independently.
Despite Indian denials, President Trump and the US State Department have reiterated Washington’s willingness to mediate the longstanding Kashmir dispute — a position welcomed by Pakistan but rejected by New Delhi.
