FM Ishaq Dar stresses resolution of Kashmir issue in meeting with Sec Rubio

WASHINGTON: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington and stressed that the Kashmir issue should be resolved following UN resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.

On Friday, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the State Department. Ishaq Dar described the meeting, which lasted approximately 40 minutes, as a very productive meeting.

According to a statement issued by the Foreign Office, the two leaders pledged to build a long-term Pak-US partnership, agreed to expand economic and trade relations, and strengthen counter-terrorism and security cooperation. They also reiterated their commitment to work together on bilateral, regional, and global issues of concern.

Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar praised the constructive role of the US in the recent Pakistan-India ceasefire and commended the steps taken by President Donald Trump and Foreign Minister Marco Rubio in this regard. Ishaq Dar said that the ceasefire prevented an escalation of the conflict between the two nuclear powers.

Referring to Jammu and Kashmir, the Foreign Minister said that this issue is a core issue between Pakistan and India. It needs to be resolved following the UN resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.

Ishaq Dar also mentioned the recent unanimous resolution adopted by the UN Security Council in this regard, which emphasizes the peaceful resolution of disputes.

Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also mentioned the importance of close cooperation in multilateral forums, including the UN Security Council.

He said that we emphasized the long-term partnership between Pakistan and the US, focusing on economic affairs, trade, investment, information technology, artificial intelligence and counter-terrorism cooperation.

Referring to the situation in Iran, Afghanistan and Gaza, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said that we also exchanged views on important global, regional and neighboring issues.

The importance of close cooperation between the two countries for regional peace and stability was also highlighted.

The Foreign Minister stressed the need to expand bilateral economic ties through trade and investment. He mentioned the sectors of information technology, artificial intelligence, cryptocurrency and minerals in this regard, saying that investment should be made at both the public and private levels.

Mentioning Pakistan’s achievements in the war against terrorism, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said that Pakistan is playing the role of a frontline force. He said that increased cooperation between Pakistan and the United States to combat terrorism will benefit both countries and will also bring peace and stability to the region.

The Foreign Minister made it clear that Pakistan is ready to play a constructive role in efforts to establish peace at the global level. The two leaders discussed the need for global efforts for lasting peace in the Middle East and discussed the issue of urgently addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar expressed the hope that a more stable, prosperous and mutually beneficial future can be created for both nations through continued dialogue and mutual respect.

Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar said that he was very happy to have comprehensive discussions with Foreign Minister Marco Rubio on all aspects of bilateral relations.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio Statement:

In his message on social media, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the purpose of this meeting was to discuss issues related to increasing bilateral trade and cooperation in the rare earth minerals sector.

In this meeting, he expressed his desire to increase bilateral cooperation in economic development, trade, investment and counter-terrorism issues. He also expressed his gratitude to Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar for Pakistan’s steps towards counter-terrorism and maintaining regional stability.

On this important meeting of the two leaders, US State Department spokesperson Timmy Bruce issued a statement saying that in his meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio appreciated Pakistan’s desire to play a constructive role as a mediator in the negotiations with Iran and to maintain regional stability.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio stresses importance of increasing bilateral trade for mutual benefit
According to the spokesperson, Secretary of State Marco Rubio stressed the importance of increasing bilateral trade for mutual benefit. He also discussed increasing cooperation in the rare earth and mining sectors.

US State Department spokesperson Timmy Bruce

According to US State Department spokesperson Timmy Bruce, the two leaders also discussed increasing bilateral cooperation against terrorism, especially ISIS Khorasan.

Timmy Bruce said that the US-Pakistan Counter-Terrorism Dialogue will be held in Islamabad in August.

After meeting US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and addressing the Atlantic Council, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar left for New York after completing a one-day visit to Washington, where he will attend an important conference on Palestine organized by Saudi Arabia and France.