Rubio thanks Dar for Pakistan's 'constructive role' in mediation between US and Iran

WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State and National Security Adviser Marco Rubio held a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in Washington on Friday and thanked him for Pakistan’s constructive role for mediation between the US and Iran. The development comes as Islamabad is attempting to negotiate a peace pact to end the US-Israeli war with Iran. Sharing details of the meeting in a statement, the US State Department said the two agreed on the “importance of working together to further strengthen a meaningful partnership that fosters security and prosperity for both Americans and Pakistanis”. It added that also Rubio expressed his condolences for the victims of the terrorist attack in Quetta on Sunday, in which a suicide bombing targeting a shuttle train claimed more than 10 lives and left several others injured. Later, Rubio shared these details in an X post as well. Separately, a statement issued by the Foreign Office (FO) in Islamabad also said that Rubio acknowledged Pakistan’s “sincere diplomatic and mediatory efforts for peace and stability in the region and beyond”. It further said the two leaders “expressed satisfaction over the positive momentum in the Pak-US bilateral relations and exchanged views on the evolving regional and global situation”. “The two sides agreed to strengthen the bilateral cooperation in all areas of mutual interest including trade and investment, security, and counter-terrorism. “They also agreed to advance Pak-US partnership, propelled by high-level exchanges and shared interests in regional peace, security and prosperity,” it added. Dar also separately commented on the “very good” meeting with Rubio, saying, “Always a pleasure to engage with him on further strengthening Pak-US bilateral relations and advancing our shared goals of peace, stability, and prosperity for our two...

Original source: Dawn Pakistan