Rubio says India must understand Washington\u2019s need for balanced diplomacy across South Asia
\n WASHINGTON
\nUS Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that Washington sees \u201can opportunity to expand its strategic relationship with Pakistan,\u201d stressing that this engagement is not at the expense of America\u2019s friendship with India.
\nDuring a press briefing, Secretary Rubio was asked whether India had expressed concerns over Washington\u2019s growing strategic engagement and stronger relations with Pakistan.
\n\u201cThey really haven\u2019t \u2013 I mean, we know they\u2019re concerned for obvious reasons because of the tensions that have existed between Pakistan and India historically,\u201d he said, according to the transcript of the briefing on the State Department\u2019s website.
\nHe noted that India has to understand that the United States must maintain relations with multiple partners.
\n\u201cWe see an opportunity to expand our strategic relationship with Pakistan,\u201d Rubio said, adding that this was part of Washington\u2019s broader policy to work with nations where common interests align.
\nHe reiterated that America\u2019s evolving ties with Pakistan would not undermine its relationship with India, which he described as \u201cdeep, historic, and important.\u201d
\nWhen asked whether the relations stemmed from Islamabad\u2019s appreciation of Washington\u2019s role in helping avert a potential war between India and Pakistan, Rubio said the renewed engagement with Pakistan had begun even before the conflict, as the US had expressed interest in rebuilding a \u201cstrategic partnership\u201d with Islamabad.
\nHe noted that both sides had a long history of cooperation, particularly in counterterrorism, and that Washington was keen to expand the relationship beyond security matters.
\n\u201cBut I think it\u2019s a very encouraging thing that that relationship has strengthened the way that it has, and I don\u2019t think it comes at the expense, or instead of a good relationship with India, or anybody else for that matter,\u201d he added.
\nThe statement comes against the backdrop of improving relations between the two countries following a prolonged diplomatic chill.
\nAn early breakthrough came in March when Pakistan\u2019s intelligence services handed over an Islamic State Khorasan operative accused of orchestrating a 2021 Kabul bombing that killed 180 people, including 13 US soldiers.
\nLater, US President Donald Trump brokered a ceasefire between Pakistan and India after both countries engaged in a military showdown in May 2025, the worst between the old foes in decades. Citing his role in defusing tensions between neighbouring countries, Pakistan recommended Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize.
\nMeanwhile, the US president has always praised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir, on multiple occasions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Rubio says India must understand Washington\u2019s need for balanced diplomacy across South Asia WASHINGTON US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that Washington sees \u201can opportunity to expand its strategic relationship with Pakistan,\u201d stressing that this engagement is not at the expense of America\u2019s friendship with India. During a press briefing, Secretary Rubio was […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":470248,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-510840","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n