U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday commended Pakistan’s sacrifices in the fight against terrorism during a meeting with Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, marking a rare high-level diplomatic engagement between Washington and Islamabad.
The meeting reflects a notable improvement in bilateral ties following a period of strained relations. A recent sign of this thaw was U.S. President Donald Trump’s warm reception of Pakistan’s Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, at the White House last month.
The U.S. recognition is significant, especially as Pakistan has consistently maintained that it is a victim of terrorism and has urged India to refrain from supporting terrorist activities against it.
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In his first formal meeting with FM Dar, Secretary Rubio acknowledged Pakistan’s unparalleled contributions in the war on terror and praised its constructive role in promoting regional and global peace. The 40-minute meeting, held at the U.S. State Department with senior officials on both sides, focused on a wide range of issues, including bilateral relations, trade, investment, counterterrorism cooperation, and regional stability.
Dar received a warm welcome on his arrival, with Pakistan’s Ambassador to the U.S., Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, also in attendance. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral ties and agreed to work collaboratively toward mutual goals.
FM Dar lauded President Trump’s diplomatic efforts in easing Pakistan-India tensions, calling them “commendable.” He expressed a desire for deeper, more stable U.S.-Pakistan relations and optimism over progress in trade negotiations. Dar also highlighted the alignment between both nations on regional peace and underscored the role of the Pakistani diaspora in enhancing bilateral engagement.
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The U.S. State Department had earlier emphasized the importance of continued cooperation on counterterrorism, especially after Pakistan arrested Daesh-K militant Sharifullah and extradited him to the U.S., where he is currently on trial for the 2021 suicide bombing outside Kabul airport.
During his recent meeting with COAS Munir, President Trump discussed a wide range of topics, including trade, economic development, energy, artificial intelligence, cryptocurrency, and emerging technologies.
Following that meeting — which occurred weeks after a brief military conflict between nuclear-armed Pakistan and India — Pakistan nominated President Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in defusing tensions.
Speaking to reporters afterward, Trump said it was an “honour” to meet Field Marshal Munir and that he invited the Pakistani military chief to personally thank him for helping end the conflict with India.
While Pakistan has repeatedly credited Trump for facilitating the ceasefire, India has consistently denied any U.S. involvement. Nevertheless, Trump has maintained his account and publicly offered to mediate the longstanding Kashmir dispute — a position echoed by the U.S. State Department.