WASHINGTON/ISLAMABAD:
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will hold his first official meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington on July 25, officials confirmed on Wednesday. The meeting comes at a crucial time, as Pakistan looks to strengthen diplomatic engagement following India’s recent military provocations and its refusal to engage in meaningful dialogue.
Sources say the agenda will include a review of Pakistan-U.S. bilateral ties, the evolving regional situation—particularly the aftermath of India’s unprovoked aggression in May—and broader strategic issues.
U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce, who will also be present at the talks, confirmed the high-level meeting and emphasized the importance of continued dialogue. When asked whether the U.S. supports direct talks between Pakistan and India on Kashmir—as it does on issues like the Indus Waters Treaty—Bruce gave a reserved response, saying:
“We have Pakistan who is going to be here for a bilat, and I’ll be participating in that, so I’m looking forward to that as well.”
The comments come against the backdrop of escalating regional tensions. On May 7, the Indian Air Force launched an unprovoked strike on civilian targets in Pakistan, claiming to hit so-called “terrorist infrastructure.” The attack killed several civilians and injured many more. In a swift response, the Pakistan Air Force downed six Indian aircraft, including three Rafale jets—exposing both the intensity of the conflict and India’s miscalculation.
Read Top Stories
The military confrontation spiraled into cross-border exchanges involving jets, drones, missiles, and artillery. A ceasefire was eventually announced on May 10, after U.S. intervention led by President Donald Trump. Trump publicly took credit for brokering the ceasefire via social media, suggesting Washington had exerted pressure on both sides. However, India, consistent with its long-standing habit of rejecting international mediation, downplayed Washington’s role and insisted the matter was bilateral—a position widely viewed as an attempt to avoid accountability.
In a bold diplomatic move following the ceasefire, Pakistan nominated President Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, praising his role in de-escalating what could have been a much broader conflict.
As Pakistan moves to recalibrate its regional posture, Foreign Minister Dar’s meeting with Secretary Rubio is seen as a significant opportunity to highlight the need for genuine conflict resolution and to challenge the narrative of unilateralism pushed by New Delhi.