Islamabad (TDI): US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a telephone conversation with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday, focusing on recent tensions in the Middle East.
Both leaders stressed the importance of long-term peace in the region and reaffirmed their shared goal of maintaining stability and preventing nuclear proliferation.
During the conversation, Rubio reiterated the US stance that Iran must never be allowed to build or obtain a nuclear weapon. A readout from the US State Department said both leaders agreed on the importance of working together to ensure long-term peace and stability in the region.
The call came at a time when Washington is reportedly considering re-opening diplomatic channels with Tehran. According to officials familiar with the matter, a new initiative could be launched in the coming week.
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Rubio’s comments about Iran’s nuclear ambitions have sparked discussion in both countries. Some see it as a sign of growing trust between the US and Pakistan. Others believe it reflects a broader shift in Washington’s regional strategy, one that views Islamabad as a partner in diffusing tensions beyond South Asia.
This latest contact builds on a series of recent engagements between the two sides. Just days earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz noted a “productive” conversation between President Donald Trump and Pakistan’s Army Chief General Asim Munir.
That meeting, held earlier this month at the White House, drew attention not only for its timing, but also because it marked the first formal reception of a serving Pakistani military chief by a sitting US president.
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Pakistan’s military later said the discussion focused on counterterrorism efforts and increasing trade ties.
President Trump, speaking afterward at a NATO summit in The Hague, shared his version of events from the meeting. Without directly naming General Munir, he credited a Pakistani military leader with helping to ease a dangerous standoff between India and Pakistan last month.
Farkhund Yousafzai is an Associate Editor at The Diplomatic Insight.
