Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in a phone call with United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio, reiterated Pakistan’s readiness to engage in meaningful dialogue with India on all outstanding issues, including Jammu and Kashmir, the Indus Waters Treaty, trade, and counter-terrorism.
During the conversation, the Prime Minister conveyed warm regards to President Donald Trump and praised his leadership. He also acknowledged Secretary Rubio’s diplomatic efforts in helping facilitate a ceasefire between Pakistan and India, which helped avert a major crisis between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
The Prime Minister welcomed President Trump’s encouraging remarks about Pakistan and emphasized that sustainable peace in South Asia can only be achieved through dialogue and cooperation between Pakistan and India.
The situation in the Middle East, particularly the Iran-Israel conflict, was also discussed. Prime Minister Shehbaz stressed the need for a peaceful resolution through diplomacy, stating that Pakistan is ready to play a constructive role in any efforts aimed at regional stability.
Highlighting President Trump’s focus on trade, the Prime Minister called for deeper cooperation between Pakistan and the United States in areas such as commerce, investment, energy, minerals, rare earth metals, and information technology.
On the issue of counter-terrorism, Prime Minister Shehbaz reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to eliminating terrorism across the country, particularly threats from groups like the BLA and TTP. Secretary Rubio commended Pakistan’s efforts in this regard and assured continued US cooperation in combating terrorism.
The Prime Minister also expressed satisfaction over the recent high-level meeting between President Trump and Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, and described it as productive and cordial.
Both sides agreed that the momentum in bilateral relations should be carried forward through concrete actions and frequent high-level exchanges. Prime Minister Shehbaz reiterated his invitations to both President Trump and Secretary Rubio to visit Pakistan.
In response, Secretary Rubio expressed his desire to enhance cooperation across all areas of mutual interest and appreciated Pakistan’s commitment to maintaining the ceasefire with India. He also encouraged Pakistan to continue its diplomatic efforts, particularly given its strong ties with Iran, in contributing to peace in the region.
Secretary Rubio reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to working closely with Pakistan to promote peace and stability both regionally and globally.
