Washington Meeting: DPM Dar and Rubio Discuss Bilateral Ties

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar arrived in Washington, D.C. on Thursday night, marking the second leg of his eight-day visit to the United States. He was received by Pakistan’s Ambassador to the U.S., Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, along with senior embassy officials.

During his stay, Dar is scheduled to hold his first official meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the Department of State. The talks will focus on strengthening Pakistan-U.S. relations, with an emphasis on boosting trade, investment, and economic cooperation.

Dar will also deliver an address at the Atlantic Council think tank, where he will outline Pakistan’s stance on regional and global issues, as well as the future trajectory of bilateral ties with the United States.

Confirming the meeting, U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce stated that senior leaders from both countries will attend, and she will also be present at the discussions.

Meanwhile, a Pakistani delegation is expected to meet Trump administration officials in Washington as part of ongoing efforts to finalize a new trade agreement. Bloomberg reported that Pakistan is seeking relief from the 29% reciprocal tariffs imposed earlier this year and has offered to increase imports of American cotton and soybeans—products where the U.S. already enjoys strong export volumes.

The U.S. remains Pakistan’s top export market, with a $3 billion trade surplus recorded in 2024. The Foreign Office noted that Dar’s Washington visit reflects Islamabad’s growing role in both bilateral diplomacy and multilateral forums.

In a parallel development, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb also met with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. According to a statement from Pakistan’s Ministry of Finance, both sides expressed satisfaction over progress in enhancing trade and economic ties—an essential pillar of Pakistan-U.S. relations.

Source: Web Desk