Special Correspondent
- Says US ready for broader, sustained partnership with Pakistan
- Calls Islamabad a key partner in regional stability
- Mentions humanitarian cooperation, Gaza stabilisation efforts
- Reaffirms American commitments in Asia and Middle East
ISLAMABAD: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in remarks released by the US State Department, stated that Washington was “ready for a broader and sustained engagement with Pakistan,” describing Islamabad as a key partner for regional peace and global stability.
Rubio made the statement aboard his flight to Doha, according to the official State Department transcript, ahead of a regional tour covering the Gulf and South Asia. He said the United States intends to “re-energise channels of cooperation with Pakistan across diplomatic, economic, and counter-terrorism fronts,” emphasising mutual interests in humanitarian and development areas.
“We have a longstanding relationship with Pakistan, and our focus is to strengthen cooperation where our interests align — especially in regional stability, counter-terrorism, and humanitarian assistance,” Rubio said. “Our outreach to Islamabad stands on its own merit; it is not part of any zero-sum calculus,” he added
The Secretary also outlined Washington’s efforts toward a multinational stabilisation framework for Gaza, saying several countries had expressed readiness to participate under a potential UN-mandated mechanism. “We are consulting with partners who are capable, acceptable to Israel, and committed to post-conflict reconstruction,” he noted.
Rubio further touched on wider regional alignments, affirming that the United States remains committed to its alliances in Asia and the Middle East while “engaging all responsible partners toward peace and economic progress.” He said the Trump administration’s approach seeks “balanced, sustained diplomacy that recognises local realities rather than imposing frameworks.”
According to the transcript, Rubio also reaffirmed US commitments to Taiwan, rejecting suggestions of any trade or security compromise, and clarified that recent sanctions on certain Latin American officials were “targeted measures, not against the people or the economies involved.”
Analysts told Reuters and The Washington Post that Rubio’s remarks reflect an effort to recalibrate Washington’s South Asia policy, where constructive engagement with Pakistan is seen as vital to stabilising Afghanistan and countering extremist networks.
