- Both parties are preparing to stimulate business, technology, AI, security links.
- Pakistan pushing trade on aid, opening the market to us.
- The China Arms agreements based on value, not alliances, explains Dar.
Washington: Vice-Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ishaq Dar said on Friday that he hoped that a trade agreement between Pakistan and the United States could be concluded in a few days, not weeks.
“I think we are about to conclude an agreement with the United States. Our teams are here in Washington, chatting, having virtual meetings, and a committee was responsible by the Prime Minister to compete now,” said Dar during a discussion at the Atlantic Council’s thinking group in Washington.
“It will not be for months, not even weeks, I would say (just) days,” he said.
The Deputy Prime Minister shared these points of view after a productive bilateral meeting with the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio earlier during the day; However, US officials did not offer any time concerning the essential trade agreement.
“The links between Pakistan and the United States are improving, and the two parties have agreed to work on the construction of a solid and long-term partnership,” he told the public.
Dar noted that his discussion with Rubio covered a wide range of questions, the two parties expressing their desire to strengthen cooperation in trade, investment, technology, artificial intelligence (AI) and the fight against terrorism.
“We have also discussed regional and global issues.”
Dar thanked the US administration led by President Donald Trump for playing a useful role in softening tensions between Pakistan and India.
He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to close cooperation on the global forums, including the United Nations Security Council, and underlined the need for dialogue in the Iran-Israel conflict.
Speaking about economic relations with Washington, the Deputy Prime Minister said: “Pakistan wants a business, not aid”.
“Pakistan plans to give greater access to American products on its markets and welcomes American investors in the mining sector.”
Pakistani tensions
Speaking of Pakistani-Indic tensions, Dar said that the two countries had to stop pointing the finger and starting to strengthen confidence if they wanted to move forward.
On the subject of terrorism, he said: “Pakistan is already taking action and does not need to know what to do.”
“India has given no evidence that Pakistan was involved in Pahalgam’s attack, said DAR, adding:” India often uses terrorism to move concentration and avoid the real problem, the cashmere dispute, which remains the main conflict bone between the two neighbors. “”
He told the public that India had repeatedly attempted to change the demography of the region during his over 70 years of illegal occupation.
Dar also recalled the events leading to the ceasefire in May, declaring that Pakistan had ended its military operation to defend its sovereignty.
He said Rubio had asked if Pakistan was ready for a ceasefire, to which he replied: “We were not ready to trigger a war in the first place.”
Dar said the United States had promised to help organize talks between Pakistan and India in a neutral place.
“Pakistan is ready to talk about everything, from cashmere to terrorism, but clearly indicated that the talks must be two sides.
“Pakistan cannot sit alone and expect results,” said the assistant PM during his speech to the reflection group.
“Pakistan does not want any conflict with its neighbors,” he said. “We are looking for lasting peace in South Asia, based on trade and partnerships, not hostility.”
Asked about the United States appointing the resistance front (TRF), a terrorist group, DAR said that Pakistan had no problem with the move, but it was strongly disagreed with the TRF link in Lashkar-E-Taiba.
He said that the group had been broken years ago, its members were arrested and imprisoned, and “TRF has nothing to do with it”.
Long -term links
The Deputy Prime Minister said that the United States had to move away from transactional links and work towards a more strategic and stable relationship with Pakistan.
He clearly indicated that the defense of Pakistan with China would not affect its relations with the United States, because such decisions depend on the country which offers the best agreement.
DAR also faced questions about the internal political situation in Pakistan.
‘Ceasfire doxttic’
He said that the former president of the PTI, Imran Khan, met him regularly and that he had personally donated to Khan hospital.
He blamed Khan’s sit-in in 2014 for stopping economic progress and said that he had tried to negotiate an “inner ceases” at the time.
Dar criticized Khan for taking up arms against the state on May 9 and said that these acts were to be treated under the law, whatever its popularity.
“No one has the right to attack military facilities,” he said. “It’s not politics – it’s a betrayal.”
Dr AFIA SIDDIQUI CASE
Commenting on the American imprisonment of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, Dar said that he had no objection if he was done under the law, but stressed that the attack on national facilities in Pakistan was also an act of betrayal – a reference to the alleged violent policy of PTI.
Speaking of terrorism and extremism, Dar congratulated the former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for having taken difficult measures against activism.
He criticized the PTI government for canceling this progress.
The assistant PM said they (the regime led by Imran Khan) released more than 100 activists, opened the borders and left 30,000 to 40,000 Taliban fighters return and come together inside Pakistan.
“This cup of tea has brought the armed rebellion to life in Pakistan,” he said in a strong reprimand for policies of the previous government.
Dar-Rubio meeting
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had previously congratulated Pakistan’s sacrifices in the war against terrorism during a meeting with DPM DAR, a rare high level interaction between the two countries.
The links between Islamabad and Washington improved after a long diplomatic gel. The thaw became more visible last month when US President Donald Trump warmly welcomed Marshal Asim with the White House.
During his first meeting with his Pakistani counterpart, which lasted 40 minutes, Rubio recognized the unequaled sacrifices of Pakistan in the war against terrorism and praised the country’s constructive role in world and regional peace.
