Islamabad, April 30, 2025: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif received a telephone call from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday evening, amid rising regional tensions following the Pahalgam incident.
During the call, the Prime Minister extended his greetings and best wishes to Secretary Rubio and conveyed his goodwill to U.S. President Donald Trump. He expressed Pakistan’s desire to work closely with the current U.S. administration across areas of mutual interest, including security, counter-terrorism, and economic development.
The conversation focused heavily on recent developments in South Asia. Sharing Pakistan’s perspective, Prime Minister Shehbaz condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to global counter-terrorism efforts. He reminded the U.S. Secretary of State that Pakistan has lost over 90,000 lives and suffered economic losses exceeding $152 billion in the war against terror.
Referring to India’s recent actions as “escalatory and provocative,” the Prime Minister expressed concern that such behavior risked undermining Pakistan’s ongoing counter-terrorism operations, particularly against groups such as the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) — many of which he said operate from Afghan territory.
Prime Minister Shehbaz categorically rejected Indian allegations attempting to link Pakistan to the April 22 Pahalgam attack. He reiterated Pakistan’s call for a transparent, credible, and neutral investigation into the incident and urged the United States to use its influence to encourage India to adopt a more responsible and measured approach.
The Prime Minister also voiced concern over what he termed India’s “weaponization of water,” referring to reported actions impacting Pakistan’s access to its water resources. He warned that such measures threatened the lives of 240 million Pakistanis and contravened the Indus Waters Treaty, which he emphasized does not allow unilateral withdrawal.
Stressing that peace in South Asia is impossible without resolving the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, the Prime Minister called for a peaceful resolution to the longstanding issue.
On the bilateral front, the Prime Minister highlighted the decades-long cooperation between Pakistan and the United States and stressed the potential for enhanced collaboration, especially in counter-terrorism and economic sectors such as minerals. He briefed Secretary Rubio on Pakistan’s recent economic reforms, noting that the country was now firmly on the path to recovery.
Secretary Rubio thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz for the candid exchange and reaffirmed the importance of continued U.S.-Pakistan engagement to support peace and stability in the region.
