Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reaffirmed Pakistan’s willingness for talks with India on all outstanding issues, including Jammu and Kashmir, the Indus Water Treaty, trade, and counter-terrorism. He expressed this resolve during a telephonic conversation with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
According to Radio Pakistan, during their warm and cordial conversation, the Prime Minister conveyed his best wishes for US President Donald Trump. He praised the President for his leadership and appreciated Secretary Rubio’s diplomacy that played a pivotal role in helping Pakistan and India arrive at a ceasefire understanding, averting a major catastrophe between the two nuclear-armed states.
The Prime Minister noted that President Trump’s positive statements about Pakistan are encouraging for peace in South Asia, which can be achieved by initiating meaningful dialogue between Pakistan and India. The situation in the Middle East, particularly the Iran-Israel crisis, was also discussed, with the Prime Minister emphasizing the need for a peaceful resolution through dialogue and diplomacy. He stated that Pakistan is ready to play a constructive role in any peace efforts, given the current worrying situation.
Shehbaz Sharif highlighted the importance of Pakistan and the United States working together to advance cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, energy, mining, rare earth metals, and IT. On security and counter-terrorism, the Prime Minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to addressing terrorism, particularly from groups like BLA and TTP. Secretary Rubio appreciated Pakistan’s efforts and assured full cooperation from the United States in countering these threats.
The Prime Minister expressed satisfaction with the recent productive discussion between President Trump and Chief of the Army Staff, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, in Washington. Both leaders agreed that talks between their countries should be translated into tangible actions across all areas.
Prime Minister Sharif also stressed the need for frequent high-level engagements to build upon the positive momentum in Pakistan-US relations. He reiterated his invitation to President Trump for an official visit to Pakistan and looked forward to meeting him at the earliest convenience. Additionally, Shehbaz Sharif invited Secretary Rubio to visit Pakistan soon.
Secretary Rubio thanked the Prime Minister for receiving his call and expressed a desire to enhance bilateral cooperation between Pakistan and the United States. He appreciated Pakistan’s commitment to upholding the ceasefire with India and its efforts for regional peace. He also encouraged Pakistan to continue its role in peace efforts with Iran, noting the United States’ commitment to working closely with Pakistan for regional and global peace and stability.