 "'Not at India's expense': Rubio says ties with Pakistan won’t undermine ‘historic’ friendship with New Delhi")
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that America’s efforts to strengthen ties with Pakistan will not come at the cost of its “deep, historic and important” friendship with India, Bloomberg reported.
Speaking to reporters aboard a flight to Doha ahead of the ASEAN summit in Malaysia, Rubio described this approach as part of “a mature, pragmatic foreign policy.” He noted that just as India has relationships with countries the US does not, the reverse also applies.
“We see an opportunity to expand our strategic relationship with Pakistan,” Rubio said. “I don’t think anything we’re doing with Pakistan comes at the expense of our relationship or friendship with India.”
“Vice versa applies,” he added. “I don’t think anything we’re doing with Pakistan comes at the expense of our relationship or friendship with India, which is deep, historic, and important,” Bloomberg cited him as saying.
The remarks come as US President Donald Trump has been highlighting a close relationship with Pakistan. At the ASEAN summit, he called PM Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir “great people” and said he would “quickly” work to resolve the Pakistan-Afghanistan conflict.
Rubio also acknowledged challenges in US-India relations, including tensions over tariffs imposed by Trump and India’s purchase of Russian oil. “We’re fully aware of the challenges with India, but our job is to create opportunities for partnerships where possible,” he said.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsHis comments follow Trump’s repeated claims of brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan after the brief conflict triggered by Operation Sindoor, launched in response to the Pahalgam terror attack by Pakistan-backed terrorists.
India has multiple times rejected Trump’s claims, stating that the Pakistani side of the DGMO had reached out to India, while Pakistan used the situation to gain leverage with the US and even nominated Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize.
Rubio said the US remains committed to rebuilding strategic partnerships with both countries. He also confirmed he would meet India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar at the ASEAN summit to discuss trade and strategic cooperation, reiterating that the US and India remain close allies.
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