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Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar speaks at the Atlantic Council, an American think tank focusing on international affairs, in Washington, US, on July 25, 2025. —X@AtlanticCouncil
#Dar #hints #imminent #trade #deal
WASHINGTON: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on Friday that he hopes that the trade agreement between Pakistan and the United States could be finalized not for weeks but for days.
After a fruitful meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Dar gave these remarks while speaking at a US -based think tank at the Atlantic Council on international affairs.
The Deputy Prime Minister said, “The relations between Pakistan and the United States are improving, and the two sides have agreed to work on the construction of a strong, long -term partnership.”
Dar said that his meeting with Rubio has covered extensive problems, both sides are willing to strengthen cooperation in trade, investment, technology, artificial intelligence (AI) and counter -terrorism.
“We also discussed regional and global issues.”
Dar thanked the US administration led by President Donald Trump that he played a helpful role in reducing tensions between Pakistan and India.
He confirmed Pakistan’s commitment to close cooperation on global forums, including the UN Security Council, and emphasized the need for dialogue in the Iran -Israeli conflict.
Talking about economic relations with Washington, the Deputy Prime Minister said, “Pakistan wants trade, not aid.”
“Pakistan plans to give more access to US products in its markets and welcomes US investors in the mining sector.”
Pakistan India Stress
Talking about Pakistan India tension, Dar said that the two countries need to stop identifying the fingers and if they want to move forward, they need to build confidence.
On the topic of terrorism, he said, “Pakistan is already taking action and does not need to tell what to do.”
“India has given no evidence that Pakistan was involved in the Paloma attack, Dar added,” India often uses terrorism to focus and avoid the real problem – the Kashmir dispute, which is the main bone of the conflict between the two neighbors. “
He told the audience that India has tried several times to change the region’s settlements during illegal occupation for more than 70 years.
Dar also remembered the events that reached the ceasefire in May, saying that Pakistan ended its military operation in defense of its sovereignty.
He said that Rubio had asked if Pakistan was ready for a ceasefire, to which he replied, “We were not ready to start the war in the first place.”
Dar said that the United States promised to help Pakistan and India in a neutral location.
“Pakistan is ready to talk about everything from Kashmir to terrorism, but made it clear that the dialogue must be two -sided.
During his talk tank, the Deputy Prime Minister said, “Pakistan cannot sit alone and cannot expect the results.”
“Pakistan does not want any dispute with its neighbors,” he said. “We want lasting peace in South Asia, which is based on trade and partnerships, not enmity.”
When asked about the name of the resistance front (TRF) against a terrorist group, Dar said that Pakistan had no problem with the move, but he did not strongly agree to link the TRF to the Laskar Taiba.
He said the group was broken years ago, its members were arrested and sent to jail, and “TRF has nothing to do with it.”
Long -term relationship
The Deputy Prime Minister said that the United States needs to go away from transactions relations and work towards more strategic and stable relations with Pakistan.
He made it clear that Pakistan’s defense agreement with China would not affect its relations with the United States, as such decisions depend on which country offers a better deal.
Dar also faced questions about Pakistan’s internal political situation.
‘Household saucefire’
He said that former PTI chairman Imran Khan used to meet him regularly and he personally donated to Khan’s hospital.
He accused Khan of Khan’s 2014 sit -in to stop economic progress and said he has tried to broker the “domestic ceasefire” at the time.
Dar criticized Khan for taking up arms against the state on May 9, saying that regardless of one’s popularity, such actions should be dealt with under the law.
“No one has the right to attack military installations,” he said. “It’s not politics – it’s treacherous.”
Dr. Afia Siddiqui Case
Commenting on Dr Aafia Siddiqui’s US imprisonment, Dar said that if he was done under the law, he had no objection to it, but he pointed out that attacking national installations in Pakistan was also a treason process – a reference to PTI’s alleged violent politics.
Talking about terrorism and extremism, Dar praised former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to take drastic measures against militancy.
He criticized the PTI government for ending this progress.
The Deputy Prime Minister said that he (Imran Khan -led government) released more than 100 militants, opened borders, and allowed Taliban fighters to return from 30,000 to 40,000 and formed a group again inside Pakistan.
He rapidly complained of the policies of the previous government, saying, “A cup of tea tea revived the armed rebellion in Pakistan.”
Dar Rubio Meeting
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio earlier praised Pakistan’s sacrifices in the fight against terrorism during a meeting with DPM Dar, which was an extraordinary high -level interaction between the two countries.
After a long diplomatic frozen, relations between Islamabad and Washington are improving. Last month, when US President Donald Trump welcomed Field Marshal Asim Munir in the White House, it was more visible.
In his first meeting with his Pakistani counterpart, which lasted for 40 minutes, Rubio acknowledged Pakistan’s unprecedented sacrifices in the fight against terrorism and praised the country’s constructive role in global and regional peace.
