Pakistan's Ishaq Dar Meets Marco Rubio in Washington as US-Iran Deal Enters Critical Phase

Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has arrived in Washington for high-level diplomatic talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio amid rising geopolitical tensions involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. The visit is being viewed as an important step in strengthening Pakistan-US engagement on regional and global issues.

Dar’s Washington visit comes shortly after his participation in meetings at the United Nations Security Council in New York. Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said the two leaders would review bilateral relations and exchange views on regional developments and strategic cooperation during their discussions.

According to officials, Dar was received in Washington by Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, along with senior embassy representatives. The ministry stated that the foreign minister would hold talks with Rubio before returning to Islamabad after completing his official engagements.

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The discussions are taking place amid reports that Pakistan is involved in backchannel diplomacy aimed at easing tensions between the United States, Israel, and Iran. Islamabad is reportedly attempting to play a mediatory role as Washington and Tehran move closer towards a tentative understanding intended to reduce the risk of broader conflict in West Asia.

Trade and economic cooperation are also expected to remain key topics during the meeting. A Pakistani trade delegation is currently in Washington to finalize agreements related to increased imports of American cotton and soybeans, while both countries are exploring ways to expand broader investment and commercial ties.

Security cooperation is another major focus area, especially regarding extremist threats from groups such as ISIS-K. The talks are also expected to lay the groundwork for the upcoming US-Pakistan Counterterrorism Dialogue scheduled to be held in Islamabad later this year, as both countries seek closer coordination on regional security challenges.

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