Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is set to meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on July 25 in Washington, marking the first high-level engagement between the two officials since Rubio assumed office. The meeting, confirmed by US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce, will involve senior officials from both sides.
The meeting is significant as it comes during Dar’s official visit to the United States. Following engagements in New York, where he is meeting with the Pakistani diaspora and prominent US think tanks, Dar will travel to Washington for the key diplomatic discussion.
Although the official agenda has not been made public, diplomatic sources suggest that the conversation will likely focus on regional security issues, particularly the Kashmir dispute, tensions between India and Pakistan, and the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty by New Delhi.
The timing of the meeting is critical, given the heightened tensions in South Asia. In April, a deadly attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam claimed 26 lives. India blamed Pakistan for the attack, a charge Islamabad strongly denied, calling instead for an independent investigation.
The attack set off a chain of events, including an airstrike by Indian jets on Pakistani soil in May, leading to a military exchange between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. The situation resulted in casualties on both sides before a ceasefire was reached.
According to officials, Dar is expected to express Pakistan’s appreciation to US President Donald Trump for his “constructive role” in helping de-escalate the military confrontation. Last month, Pakistan formally recommended President Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize in a letter signed by Dar himself.
During the upcoming talks with Marco Rubio, these issues are expected to be central in the discussions, with Dar seeking continued US support for peace and stability in the region.
Also Read: Ishaq Dar Leads Pakistan’s Engagements at UNSC Sessions in New York
