Islamabad, June 20, 2025: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif received a telephone call from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday evening, during which the two leaders held a warm and wide-ranging conversation focused on regional stability and deepening Pakistan-U.S. ties.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the premier conveyed his best wishes to President Donald Trump and lauded his bold leadership, particularly in facilitating the recent ceasefire between Pakistan and India. He also praised Secretary Rubio’s “proactive diplomacy,” which he said played a critical role in averting a major conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
PM Shehbaz noted that President Trump’s recent positive remarks about Pakistan were “encouraging for long-term peace in South Asia” and reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to meaningful dialogue with India. He expressed Islamabad’s readiness to discuss all outstanding issues, including Jammu and Kashmir, the Indus Waters Treaty, trade, and counterterrorism cooperation.
The two leaders also discussed the worsening Iran-Israel conflict. PM Shehbaz emphasized the urgency of resolving the crisis through peaceful dialogue and diplomacy, calling it a situation of global concern. He expressed Pakistan’s willingness to play a constructive role in any peace initiative.
On bilateral cooperation, Prime Minister Shehbaz underlined the importance of expanding U.S.-Pakistan engagement in key sectors such as trade, investment, energy, rare earth metals, mining, and information technology. He recalled President Trump’s focus on economic diplomacy and emphasized the need for tangible progress in these areas.
In terms of security, the prime minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to eliminating terrorism, particularly threats posed by the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and other extremist groups. Secretary Rubio acknowledged Pakistan’s efforts and assured continued U.S. support in counterterrorism cooperation.
Reflecting on the recent high-level meeting between President Trump and Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Prime Minister Shehbaz said the discussions had been cordial and constructive, laying a solid foundation for stronger bilateral ties.
Both leaders agreed that the current momentum in Pakistan-U.S. relations must be sustained through frequent high-level interactions and concrete follow-up actions.
Prime Minister Shehbaz extended official invitations to both President Trump and Secretary Rubio to visit Pakistan at their earliest convenience. He also expressed hope to meet President Trump soon.
Secretary Rubio thanked the prime minister for the conversation and reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to enhancing cooperation with Pakistan in all areas of mutual interest. He appreciated Pakistan’s role in maintaining the ceasefire with India and encouraged Islamabad to use its regional influence, particularly with Iran, to support peace efforts.
The call concluded with both sides expressing confidence in a more robust and forward-looking bilateral relationship.
