Shehbaz Sharif, Marco Rubio Hold Cordial Phone Call to Advance Bilateral Cooperation and Regional Peace
Islamabad, The Gulf Observer: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif received a telephone call from United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday evening. The exchange, described as warm and cordial, focused on enhancing bilateral ties and addressing key regional developments.
The Prime Minister conveyed his best wishes for U.S. President Donald Trump and commended his bold leadership. He also lauded Secretary Rubio’s diplomatic efforts in facilitating the recent ceasefire understanding between Pakistan and India, which he noted had helped avert a potentially catastrophic confrontation between the two nuclear-armed nations.
Welcoming President Trump’s recent positive statements about Pakistan, Prime Minister Shehbaz described them as encouraging steps toward sustainable peace in South Asia. He reiterated Pakistan’s consistent stance in favor of meaningful dialogue with India on all outstanding issues, including the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, the Indus Waters Treaty, trade relations, and counterterrorism cooperation.
The two leaders also discussed the escalating Iran-Israel conflict. Prime Minister Shehbaz stressed the urgency of prioritizing diplomacy and dialogue to avoid further escalation and reiterated Pakistan’s readiness to play a constructive role in supporting peace efforts in the Middle East. He emphasized the global ramifications of the ongoing conflict.
Referring to President Trump’s focus on economic cooperation, the Prime Minister underlined the need to expand Pakistan-U.S. collaboration in areas such as trade, investment, energy, rare earth minerals, mining, and information technology. He noted that strengthening economic ties is essential for mutual growth and prosperity.
On the subject of security and counterterrorism, Prime Minister Shehbaz reaffirmed Pakistan’s firm resolve to eradicate terrorism, particularly threats posed by groups such as the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and other militant outfits. Secretary Rubio acknowledged Pakistan’s ongoing counterterrorism efforts and assured full U.S. support in this domain.
The leaders also reflected on the recent meeting between President Trump and Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, in Washington. Prime Minister Shehbaz described the meeting as both cordial and productive and emphasized the importance of translating diplomatic goodwill into concrete outcomes across all areas of shared interest.
In a bid to maintain the positive momentum, the Prime Minister underscored the need for regular high-level engagements. He reiterated his invitation to President Trump for an official visit to Pakistan and expressed his desire for a bilateral meeting. He also extended a separate invitation to Secretary Rubio to visit Pakistan at an early opportunity.
Secretary Rubio thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz for the conversation and reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to deepening cooperation with Pakistan. He acknowledged Pakistan’s efforts in maintaining the ceasefire with India and its diplomatic engagement in the Middle East, noting Islamabad’s valuable ties with Tehran.
The discussion, officials noted, marks a reaffirmation of the strong and evolving partnership between Pakistan and the United States, built on shared goals of regional stability, economic development, and global peace.
