Washington (TDI): The US State Department has hinted that the Kashmir dispute could come up during a high-level meeting between Pakistan and the United States scheduled for Friday.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is set to meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington on July 25, marking their first official engagement since Rubio took office.
Officials confirmed the agenda will include bilateral ties, regional security, and recent tensions between Pakistan and India.
US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce, addressing a press briefing, said both sides would be represented at senior levels. Asked if Kashmir would be discussed, she offered a cautious but notable response.
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“We have Pakistan here for a bilateral, and I’ll be participating in that as well. I’m looking forward to it,” Bruce said.
Her remarks come amid renewed attention on the longstanding Kashmir dispute and growing friction between Islamabad and New Delhi. In the past, the US has expressed support for direct dialogue between the two nations, though it has steered clear of taking sides.
The upcoming meeting also follows Pakistan’s surprise move to nominate US President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize. Islamabad credited him with helping calm a brief but dangerous military standoff earlier this year.
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In May, India launched strikes across the Line of Control, claiming it had targeted “terror infrastructure.” Pakistani officials said the attacks killed civilians.
In response, Pakistan’s air force shot down six Indian jets, including several Rafale aircraft, triggering a wider exchange of hostilities that lasted several days before both sides agreed to a ceasefire on May 10.
Farkhund Yousafzai is an Associate Editor at The Diplomatic Insight.