- Rubio calls India “mature” in its diplomatic approach.
- The United States aims for balanced relations in South Asia.
- Partnership with Pakistan not at India’s expense: Rubio.
WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington sees “an opportunity to expand its strategic relationship with Pakistan”, stressing that the engagement does not come at the expense of America’s friendship with India.
At a press briefing, Secretary Rubio was asked whether India had expressed concerns over Washington’s growing strategic engagement and strengthening relations with Pakistan.
“They really haven’t — I mean, we know they’re concerned for obvious reasons because of the tensions that have existed historically between Pakistan and India,” he said, according to the transcript of the briefing on the State Department website.
He noted that India must understand that the United States must maintain relationships with multiple partners.
“We see an opportunity to expand our strategic relationship with Pakistan,” Rubio said, adding that it was part of Washington’s broader policy to work with countries where common interests align.
He reiterated that evolving ties between America and Pakistan would not harm its relationship with India, which he described as “deep, historic and important.”
Asked whether the relationship stemmed from Islamabad’s appreciation of Washington’s role in preventing a potential war between India and Pakistan, Rubio said the renewed engagement with Pakistan began even before the conflict, with the United States expressing interest in rebuilding a “strategic partnership” with Islamabad.
He stressed that the two sides have a long history of cooperation, particularly in the fight against terrorism, and that Washington wants to expand their relations beyond security issues.
“But I think it’s a very encouraging thing that this relationship has strengthened to this extent, and I don’t think it’s at the expense, or in place of a good relationship with India, or with anyone else for that matter,” he added.
This declaration comes in a context of improving relations between the two countries after a prolonged diplomatic cooling.
A first breakthrough came in March when Pakistani intelligence handed over an Islamic State operative from Khorasan accused of orchestrating a 2021 bombing in Kabul that killed 180 people, including 13 U.S. troops.
Later, US President Donald Trump brokered a ceasefire between Pakistan and India after the two countries engaged in a military confrontation in May 2025, the worst between the old enemies in decades. Citing his role in defusing tensions between neighboring countries, Pakistan recommended Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Meanwhile, the US President has consistently praised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir on several occasions.
