US, Pakistan Discuss Iran, Terror, and Trade in First Foreign Minister-Level Meeting in Three Years
New Delhi: US secretary of state Marco Rubio on July 25 welcomed Pakistan's 'willingness' to mediate with Iran and its commitment to maintaining 'regional stability' during a meeting with Pakistani deputy prime minister and foreign minister Ishaq Dar – the first foreign minister-level engagement between the two countries in three years.
The meeting reflected a renewed warmth in US-Pakistan ties under the Trump administration, in contrast to the previous Biden years, when former president Biden did not directly engage with either Imran Khan or Shehbaz Sharif during their tenures as prime minister.
The shift has been particularly noticeable to New Delhi, which has been uneasy over President Donald Trump's repeated claims that he pressured India and Pakistan into a ceasefire following four days of cross-border clashes by leveraging trade.
India has maintained that the hostilities ended only after a direct military-to-military conversation between the two sides, with no third-party intervention.
Pakistan, which has long sought to internationalise the Kashmir dispute, publicly supported Trump's version and even nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize. A week after the ceasefire, Pakistan army chief Asim Munir visited the White House for a lunch meeting with Trump. The discussion focused on Iran and came shortly after Israeli airstrikes on Iranian territory.
According to the US State department readout, 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'.
It also stated that the two ministers on Friday 'discussed prospects for deepening bilateral counterterrorism cooperation, including countering ISIS-K, and the upcoming U.S.-Pakistan Counterterrorism Dialogue in Islamabad this August'.
Pakistan's opening with the Trump administration began in the early months of his second term, when its military quietly handed over an Islamic State (ISIS-K) militant to US authorities. Trump later referenced the handover in his first address to Congress, singling out Pakistan for praise, which was an early indication of the alignment that would follow.
Rubio also raised the issue of 'mutually beneficial bilateral trade', language seen as reflecting the Trump administration's concern about trade deficits. He spoke about enhancing collaboration in the critical minerals and mining sectors, which has been a priority area for Trump amid China's tightening control of global supply chains.
At an event hosted by the Atlantic Council, the visiting Pakistani minister said the United States and Pakistan were close to concluding a deal to extract min erals from Pakistan. He suggested that an agreement could be finalised in 'weeks and days, not months'.
During an interaction at a think-tank Atlantic Council, he stated the US and Pakistan were close to concluding a deal for extracting minerals from Pakistan and an agreement could be finalised in 'weeks and days, not months.'
In a post on X, he wrote the two sides had reaffirmed their 'commitment to the long-term Pakistan-US partnership, with renewed focus on economic, trade, investment, IT/AI, and CT cooperation'. He also thanked the United States for what he described as a constructive role in helping facilitate the recent ceasefire between Pakistan and India.
According to a statement issued by the Pakistan embassy in Washington, as reported by Dawn, Dar told Rubio that the U.S. intervention had 'helped avert a potential nuclear confrontation and restored calm to a volatile region'.
The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
29 minutes ago
- Indian Express
WATCH: Supposed Indian-origin man shouts ‘bomb the flight' and ‘death to Trump' mid-flight on EasyJet plane
A seemingly middle-aged man was arrested on Sunday morning after causing panic aboard an EasyJet flight from London Luton to Glasgow, repeatedly shouting threats including 'I'm going to bomb the plane!' and 'Death to America! Death to Trump!' as passengers tackled him mid-air. The flight, designated EZY609, was met by police upon landing at Glasgow Airport around 8:20 am local time, where the man was taken into custody. According to New York Post citing one witness, the man carried documents suggesting he was an Indian national with refugee status. According to New York Post, the suspect allegedly shouted that he wanted to 'send a message' to US President Donald Trump, who was in Scotland at the time, visiting his Turnberry golf course. The incident occurred roughly an hour after takeoff from Luton. The man also kept shouting 'Allahu Akbar' while raising his hands aggressively. Footage shared online shows the man shouting the threats, as a passenger wrestles him to the floor. Following this, he seemingly gives up and stops shouting. 'DEATH to Trump' and 'ALLAHU AKBAR' — man causes panic on flight Says he's going to 'BOMB the plane' SLAMMED to ground by passenger — RT (@RT_com) July 27, 2025 The plane, already close to its destination, was placed under emergency landing protocol as air traffic control cleared a safe path for descent. Officers from Police Scotland boarded the aircraft upon arrival and detained the man. A Police Scotland spokesperson confirmed, according to The Jerusalem Post: 'We received a report of a man causing a disturbance on a flight arriving in Glasgow around 8:20 am on Sunday, 27 July 2025. A 41-year-old man was arrested and remains in custody. Enquiries are continuing.' Authorities added that counterterrorism officers are assessing the footage and conducting a full investigation. Police believe the man acted alone and there is no indication of a wider threat. In a statement, EasyJet said according to The Jerusalem Post said: 'Flight EZY609 from Luton to Glasgow this morning was met by police on arrival in Glasgow, where they boarded the aircraft and removed a passenger due to their behaviour onboard.' They added, 'EasyJet's crew are trained to assess all situations and act quickly and appropriately to ensure that the safety of the flight and other customers is not compromised at any time. The safety and well-being of our customers and crew is always EasyJet's highest priority.' (With inputs from BBC, The Jerusalem Post, New York Post)
Indian Express
29 minutes ago
- Indian Express
US, China officials to hold trade talks in Stockholm: What to expect?
Senior officials from the United States and China will meet in Stockholm today to discuss trade and economic issues, in what both sides describe as a step toward easing tensions. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng will be meeting for the third time this year, nearly four months after President Donald Trump proposed sweeping tariffs, including an import tax of up to 145% on Chinese goods. The meeting is also expected to lay the groundwork for a potential meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping later this year. The planned meeting in the Swedish capital is part of broader efforts by both countries to stabilise a relationship that has been strained by trade disputes, technology competition, and geopolitical rivalry. While officials have kept the agenda under wraps, it is expected, as per AP, that the discussions will cover: This could be the first real opportunity for the two governments to address structural reform issues including market access in China for US companies, said Sean Stein, president of the US-China Business Council, as per AP. The US imposed a 20% tariff on fentanyl-related products earlier this year. China responded with a 10% tariff on US goods. In July, China placed two fentanyl precursor chemicals under enhanced control. Gabriel Wildau, managing director at the consultancy Teneo, said major relief is unlikely. 'It's possible that Trump would cancel the 20% tariff that he has explicitly linked with fentanyl… but I would expect the final tariff level on China to be at least as high as the 15–20% rate contained in the recent deals with Japan, Indonesia, Vietnam.' A key concern for Washington is China's industrial overcapacity. 'Right now, many companies, especially in manufacturing, feel quite deeply that China's manufacturing capacity is so strong, and the Chinese people are incredibly diligent,' Chinese Premier Li Qiang said on Thursday, as per Bloomberg News. 'Factories run 24 hours a day.' The US is expected to pressure China on reducing oil purchases from Russia and Iran. The Stockholm talks will be 'geared towards building a trade agreement based around Chinese purchase commitments and pledges of investment in the US in exchange for partial relief from US tariffs and export controls,' Wildau said, as per AP. (With inputs from AP)
New Indian Express
29 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
'Why do you assume that they came from Pakistan': Chidambaram's remark on Pahalgam attackers stirs row
A political row has erupted ahead of the high-stakes parliamentary debate on 'Operation Sindoor', India's military response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam. The controversy was sparked by remarks from former finance minister and senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram, who, in an interview with The Quint, questioned the narrative that the attackers came from Pakistan. 'There is no evidence so far that the killers were Pakistani,' Chidambaram said, suggesting that "homegrown terrorists" could have been involved. He also slammed the government's handling of the investigation, asking why the attackers had not yet been apprehended or identified. His comments triggered a sharp backlash from the BJP, with the party accusing Congress of undermining national security. 'Once again, the Congress rushes to give a clean chit to Pakistan, this time after the Pahalgam terror attack,' BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya posted on X, sharing a clip from the interview. He further added, 'When it comes to national security, there should be no ambiguity. But with the Congress, there never is – they always bend over backwards to protect the enemy.'
