Washington, October 26, 2025: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that Washington sees “an opportunity to expand its strategic relationship with Pakistan,” while emphasising that this engagement will not come at the expense of America’s longstanding partnership with India.
Speaking at a press briefing, Secretary Rubio was asked whether India had expressed concerns over Washington’s growing engagement with Islamabad.
“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 posted on the US State Department’s website.
Rubio noted that the United States must maintain relations with multiple partners in the region.
“We see an opportunity to expand our strategic relationship with Pakistan,” he said, describing it as part of Washington’s broader policy to strengthen ties with countries where mutual interests align.
He reiterated that the US relationship with India remains “deep, historic, and important,” and that enhanced ties with Pakistan “do not undermine or replace” Washington’s friendship with New Delhi.
When asked whether this engagement stemmed from Islamabad’s appreciation of Washington’s role in helping avert a potential conflict with India earlier this year, Rubio said the renewed outreach to Pakistan had begun even before the recent crisis.
“The United States had already expressed interest in rebuilding a strategic partnership with Islamabad,” he noted, citing long-standing cooperation in counterterrorism and shared regional interests.
Rubio described the progress as “very encouraging,” adding, “I don’t think it comes at the expense, or instead of, a good relationship with India — or anybody else for that matter.”
The remarks come amid warming ties between Islamabad and Washington following years of diplomatic chill.
An early breakthrough occurred in March 2025, when Pakistan’s intelligence agencies handed over an Islamic State Khorasan operative accused of orchestrating the 2021 Kabul bombing that killed 180 people, including 13 US soldiers.
Relations further improved after US President Donald Trump helped broker a ceasefire between Pakistan and India in May 2025, following their worst military confrontation in decades.
Citing his role in defusing tensions, Pakistan later nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize.
President Trump has also publicly praised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, describing both as “strong partners in peace and stability.”
