Islamabad– U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held their first telephone conversation, focusing on strengthening counterterrorism cooperation between the two nations. A key topic of discussion was the return of U.S. military equipment left behind in Afghanistan following the 2021 withdrawal.
According to Pakistan’s Foreign Office, the two officials also discussed bilateral relations, regional security, and economic cooperation during the call.
“During the conversation, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Dar reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with the United States,” stated a press release from the Foreign Office. “He emphasized the importance of enhancing cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, and counterterrorism.”
Secretary Rubio echoed the sentiment, expressing the U.S.’s interest in collaborating with Pakistan in trade and investment, particularly in sectors such as critical minerals. “He noted that economic and trade cooperation would be a cornerstone of future U.S.-Pakistan relations,” the release added.
Counterterrorism efforts remained the central theme of the call. Dar outlined Pakistan’s achievements in combating terrorism, particularly between 2013 and 2018, and underscored the significant human and economic costs the country has borne.
“Secretary Rubio appreciated Pakistan’s efforts in the fight against terrorism and conveyed the U.S.’s desire to further enhance counterterrorism collaboration,” the statement said. The leaders also discussed the situation in Afghanistan, with Rubio agreeing on the importance of resolving the issue of U.S. military equipment left behind.
The timing of the call carries added significance, coming just one day after U.S. President Donald Trump imposed new tariffs on several countries, including China. Beijing responded aggressively, fueling volatility in global and Asian markets, which led to a sharp decline in stock markets on Monday.
In response to the evolving economic landscape, Pakistan has decided to send a high-level delegation to Washington in hopes of turning the current U.S. tariff regime into a mutually beneficial opportunity.
“You should never let a good crisis go to waste. We are viewing this both as a challenge and an opportunity,” said Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb. (Source: IANS)
