US Secretary of State Discusses Relations with Pakistan and India

Strengthening Ties with Pakistan

On Saturday, Marco Rubio, the Secretary of State for the United States, emphasized that the country's relationship with Pakistan does not undermine its strong ties with India.

When questioned about whether New Delhi had voiced concerns regarding the Trump administration's growing rapport with Islamabad, Rubio responded that there had been no significant expressions of worry from India.

He acknowledged India's historical concerns due to the longstanding tensions with Pakistan, stating, “They really haven’t” expressed their worries.

Rubio further explained, “We recognize their concerns for obvious reasons,” but added that the US must maintain relationships with various nations.

He noted, “We see an opportunity to enhance our strategic partnership with Pakistan, and that’s our responsibility—to explore how we can collaborate on shared interests.”

According to Rubio, New Delhi demonstrates a mature approach to diplomacy. He remarked, “They have relationships with countries that we do not engage with.”

He continued, “This reflects a pragmatic foreign policy. Our dealings with Pakistan do not detract from our deep, historic friendship with India.”

When asked if the US's ties with Pakistan had improved due to Islamabad's acknowledgment of Trump's claims regarding a ceasefire mediation between India and Pakistan in May, Rubio mentioned that he had reached out to Pakistan prior to the conflict.

He expressed the US's interest in rebuilding a strategic alliance with Pakistan, focusing on counterterrorism and related issues.

Rubio acknowledged that there would be challenges ahead.

His remarks came just two days before a scheduled meeting with Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on the sidelines of the ASEAN and East Asia summits in Malaysia.

Following their meeting, Jaishankar shared on social media his appreciation for the discussions regarding bilateral relations and regional matters.

Trump has frequently claimed credit for facilitating the ceasefire between India and Pakistan after the four-day conflict in May.

Rubio had previously stated that both nations had agreed to initiate discussions on a wide range of issues at a neutral location.

However, New Delhi has dismissed these claims, asserting that the ceasefire was not a result of any mediation.

Recent diplomatic strains have also surfaced between New Delhi and Washington, primarily due to the US imposing reciprocal tariffs on Indian products and penalties for purchasing Russian oil amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

The two nations are currently in negotiations for a trade agreement.