Pakistan-US Relations
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has emphasized that Pakistan’s relationship with the United States must not be defined through the prism of Islamabad’s close ties with China.
Speaking to members of the Pakistani community at the Pakistan Consulate in New York, FM Dar described his recent meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio as cordial and constructive — the first such meeting at the foreign minister level in nearly a decade.
“We stress, and will continue to do so, that Pakistan-US relations must not be viewed via the lens of our relations with iron-clad brother China,” Dar asserted. He highlighted the government’s intention to build the strongest possible ties with the US, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
This diplomatic outreach comes amid a warming of Pakistan-US ties after a prolonged chill, and in the context of rising US-China tensions. The meeting between Dar and Rubio follows a high-profile visit by Pakistan’s Army Chief, General Asim Munir, who received a warm welcome at the White House from President Donald Trump during the Israel-Iran crisis.
During his 40-minute meeting with Secretary Rubio, FM Dar discussed bilateral ties, trade, investment, counterterrorism cooperation, and regional peace. Rubio praised Pakistan’s sacrifices in the war on terror and acknowledged its constructive role in promoting global and regional stability.
Dar also revealed that Pakistan is close to finalizing a new trade deal with the US, with both sides working through virtual and in-person meetings. “It’s not going to take months or weeks, I would say just days,” he stated during an earlier talk at the Atlantic Council in Washington.
On the domestic front, Dar highlighted Pakistan’s economic recovery, noting reduced inflation, improved investor confidence, and a successful completion of the IMF program. He reiterated the government’s ambition for Pakistan to join the ranks of G-20 economies and emphasized the efforts of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) in streamlining investment across priority sectors.
Additionally, Dar said steps were underway to resume Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flights to New York, following restored routes to the UK and Europe.
Touching upon humanitarian efforts, Dar referenced his previous engagement with former US Secretary of State Antony Blinken over the case of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui. He noted that multiple efforts — legal, consular, and even seeking clemency — were undertaken for her release, although they have not yet succeeded.
In conclusion, Dar appreciated the contributions of the Pakistani-American diaspora, describing them as vital to strengthening bilateral ties and elevating Pakistan’s global image.
