Washington (TDI): Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington on Friday, a high-level diplomatic engagement that touched on trade, investment, counterterrorism, and regional tensions, particularly the flare-up between Pakistan and India in May.
This was the first official meeting between foreign ministers of the two countries in over three years and is being viewed as a significant move towards revitalizing bilateral ties.
During the meeting, they discussed ways to deepen cooperation on technology, agriculture, energy, and critical minerals, with both Dar and Rubio stressing the importance of a stable partnership.
“We agreed to push forward on trade and economic collaboration, including in AI, IT, and the minerals sector,” Dar said after the meeting. He also emphasized Pakistan’s value as a destination for American investors.
Rubio, in his own remarks, said the talks included discussions on how to strengthen economic ties and “preserve regional stability”, a likely reference to the recent military tension between Pakistan and India in May.
One of the central themes of the meeting was the situation with India. The two ministers acknowledged that in May, both sides worked quietly to defuse a potentially explosive standoff between India and Pakistan. Dar later credited US diplomacy with helping to avoid a major escalation, something that could’ve had serious consequences in a nuclear-armed region.
Read More: Dar Meets US Secretary of State Rubio in Washington Today
Speaking later at the Atlantic Council, Dar said the US needs to stay engaged in South Asia. “Walking away isn’t an option,” he said, adding that lasting peace won’t come without dialogue, and that includes Kashmir.
He also called for a “long-term mechanism” to handle disputes in the region, pointing out that without open lines of communication, misunderstandings could quickly spiral out of control.
While security topped the agenda, trade and investment weren’t far behind. Both sides expressed interest in expanding cooperation in areas like agriculture, energy, and digital technologies.
Read More: US Hints at Kashmir Discussion in Dar-Rubio Meeting on Friday
Dar hinted at a potential agreement on mineral extraction, saying that talks with the US were at an advanced stage and a deal could be wrapped up soon, “in weeks or even days,” he suggested.
He also described Pakistan as a country with strong potential for American companies, especially in sectors that are still growing.
Farkhund Yousafzai is an Associate Editor at The Diplomatic Insight.
