WASHINGTON, D.C. — Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is set to meet U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington on Friday, amid heightened regional tensions between Pakistan and India, particularly over Kashmir, reported by The Express Tribune.
The scheduled meeting on July 25 marks Dar’s first official engagement with Secretary Rubio and is expected to cover a broad agenda—including a review of Pakistan-U.S. relations, regional stability, economic cooperation, and the fragile peace between Islamabad and New Delhi.
U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce confirmed that senior officials from both sides will attend and hinted that the Kashmir issue may surface during the talks. When asked whether Washington supports bilateral dialogue on Kashmir, Bruce offered a carefully worded reply: “We have Pakistan who is going to be here for a bilat, and I’ll be participating in that, so I’m looking forward to that as well.”
Her remarks have stirred fresh speculation over a potential U.S. role in easing South Asian tensions—particularly following a May flare-up that saw deadly cross-border strikes and the downing of six Indian fighter jets by Pakistan’s Air Force.
The U.S. has historically urged restraint and dialogue between India and Pakistan, though India firmly opposes third-party mediation. Still, President Trump previously claimed a role in de-escalating hostilities during a 2024 summit in Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan later nominated him for a Nobel Peace Prize.
The upcoming bilateral is likely to test whether Washington will reassert a diplomatic role—or continue its cautious balancing act.
