ISLAMABAD; Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held his second telephone conversation in a week with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday, a development indicating accelerating diplomatic engagement between the two allies following Dar’s recent visit to Washington.
According to a statement issued by Pakistan’s Foreign Office, both leaders discussed a wide range of bilateral matters and shared perspectives on regional and international developments. The two sides reaffirmed their intent to remain in close contact and sustain cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
The call came just days after Islamabad and Washington finalized a trade agreement that includes tariff reductions and collaboration in oil exploration. This follows a period of strained relations and signals a significant turnaround in diplomatic and economic cooperation. The agreement is seen as a milestone in restoring trust and deepening economic ties between the two countries.
The breakthrough deal was achieved during Pakistani Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb’s meeting with the US Secretary of Commerce and the US Trade Representative in Washington. Pakistan’s Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Sheikh and Commerce Secretary Jawad Paul were also present. The agreement aims to enhance bilateral trade, improve market access, and attract US investment in Pakistan.
As part of the trade deal, there will be substantial reductions in tariffs, especially on Pakistani exports to the US. Additionally, both sides have agreed to cooperate on developing Pakistan’s untapped oil reserves. In a post on social media, US President Donald Trump confirmed the deal, saying, “We have just concluded a deal with the country of Pakistan to work together on developing their massive oil reserves.”
Trump humorously added that the joint venture might one day be exporting oil to India. The move reflects Washington’s growing strategic interest in Pakistan’s energy and trade sectors. According to US Trade Representative data, total goods trade between the US and Pakistan stood at $7.3 billion in 2024, up from $6.9 billion in 2023, with the US facing a trade deficit of $3 billion — a 5.2% rise from the previous year.
Dar and Rubio’s earlier meeting, held on July 25 at the delegation level, included senior officials from both sides and focused on enhancing cooperation in trade, investment, counterterrorism, and regional stability. Rubio praised Pakistan’s contributions in the war on terror, while Dar appreciated Trump’s efforts to reduce Pakistan-India tensions and expressed Islamabad’s desire for deeper, long-term relations with Washington.
