Dar arrives in Washington to talk with US Secretary Rubio

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar arrived in Washington, DC, on Friday for an official visit, during which he will meet with US Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Marco Rubio to discuss matters of bilateral and regional importance, following the conclusion of his engagements at the United Nations in New York.

According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (FO), Dar was received by Pakistan’s ambassador to the United States, Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, along with senior officials of the Pakistani embassy.

“Following the conclusion of his official engagements, he will return to Islamabad on the same day,” the statement added.

On Thursday, the FO said discussions during the visit would focus on strengthening cooperation in key sectors, as well as Pakistan’s efforts to promote regional peace and stability through “dialogue and diplomacy.”

Dar’s visit to Washington comes on the heels of a series of high-level engagements at the United Nations headquarters in New York, where he participated in an open debate of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) convened under China’s presidency of the council.

Addressing the UN Security Council session, Dar on Tuesday called for restraint and reduction of tension in the Middle East, warning the UN Security Council that another protracted conflict would jeopardize regional peace and further strain the fragile international order.

In an open debate, Dar, referring to ongoing efforts to achieve a resolution of the conflict between Iran and the United States, stated that the principle of peaceful settlement must apply equally to all long-standing disputes on the Security Council agenda.

“The whole world is watching. We must succeed in the interests of regional and global peace and security,” he told the 15-member Security Council. “As a friendly neighbor of Iran and brother Gulf countries, Pakistan consistently advocated restraint, reduction of tensions and return to diplomacy.”

While in New York, Dar also held meetings with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and other senior diplomats, where discussions covered regional conflicts, Afghanistan, Palestine, South Asia and reform of the UN Security Council. Pakistan also reiterated its support for greater multilateral cooperation and reforms of global governance institutions.

The foreign minister’s latest visit signals continued momentum in diplomatic engagement between Pakistan and the United States at a time when Islamabad has taken an increasingly visible role in regional diplomacy, particularly with regard to ongoing indirect contacts between Washington and Tehran.

Recent international reports have highlighted Pakistan’s involvement in facilitating communication channels aimed at easing tensions between the two sides.

Relations between Pakistan and the United States have witnessed renewed commitment in recent months, with cooperation expanding beyond traditional security issues toward diplomacy, regional stability and economic coordination. Washington has also increasingly acknowledged Islamabad’s role in mediation efforts linked to the Middle East crisis, as both countries continue discussions on trade, energy cooperation and broader regional security issues.

The visit comes amid continued diplomatic engagement between Islamabad and Washington on regional security and bilateral cooperation. According to the statement, Dar will return to Islamabad on the same day after completing his official engagements.