US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, in Washington on Friday, praising Islamabad’s cooperation in the fight against terrorism just days after the US sanctioned a Pakistan-linked terror outfit.
The two leaders held wide-ranging talks covering bilateral ties, trade cooperation, and regional security during Dar’s visit to the United States.
Taking to X, Rubio said he thanked Dar for “Pakistan’s partnership in countering terrorism and preserving regional stability.” He added that the talks explored ways to expand bilateral trade and deepen collaboration in critical minerals and mining, sectors of increasing strategic value.
According to US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce, Secretary Rubio expressed appreciation for “Pakistan’s continued willingness to play a constructive role in mediating conversations with Iran and its commitment to preserving regional stability.”
The two sides also reviewed plans for the upcoming US-Pakistan Counterterrorism Dialogue, scheduled to take place in Islamabad this August. The talks will focus on strengthening cooperation against terror groups such as ISIS-K, as both nations seek to broaden counterterrorism efforts in the region.
Rubio underscored the need to “expand mutually beneficial bilateral trade” and said Washington looked forward to exploring new opportunities in the minerals sector, especially amid growing global demand for critical resources.
According to a loceal news agency, Dar is on an eight-day visit to the United States, during which he has chaired several United Nations Security Council meetings as part of Pakistan’s rotating presidency this month.
The meeting comes just days after Rubio announced the US would designate The Resistance Front (TRF) — a front for the Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) — as both a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO) and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT).
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