PM Shehbaz, Secretary Rubio hold talks on bilateral ties, Iran-Israel crisis

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a telephone conversation with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday evening, during which the two leaders discussed a range of key bilateral, regional, and global issues in a warm and cordial atmosphere.

The Prime Minister extended his best wishes to U.S. President Donald Trump, praising his bold leadership and acknowledging Secretary Rubio’s diplomatic role in helping broker a ceasefire understanding between Pakistan and India—a move Shehbaz said prevented a potentially catastrophic conflict between the two nuclear-armed nations.

Welcoming President Trump’s recent positive remarks about Pakistan, the Prime Minister said such gestures were encouraging for fostering long-term peace in South Asia.

He reiterated Pakistan’s readiness to engage in meaningful dialogue with India on all outstanding issues, including the Jammu & Kashmir dispute, the Indus Waters Treaty, trade, and counter-terrorism.

The two leaders also addressed the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict, with Prime Minister Shehbaz emphasizing the need for dialogue and diplomacy to find a peaceful resolution.

He reaffirmed Pakistan’s willingness to contribute constructively to peace efforts in the Middle East, highlighting the wider global stakes involved.

Referring to President Trump’s focus on economic cooperation, the Prime Minister stressed the need to enhance Pakistan-U.S. collaboration in sectors such as trade, investment, energy, mining, rare earth minerals, and information technology.

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Shehbaz Sharif also expressed satisfaction over the recent meeting between President Trump and Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, in Washington, describing it as both productive and cordial.

Both sides agreed that these engagements should translate into concrete actions across various sectors of mutual interest.

To further strengthen ties, the Prime Minister underscored the importance of regular high-level exchanges. He renewed his invitation to President Trump for an official visit to Pakistan and expressed eagerness for an in-person meeting. Additionally, he extended an invitation to Secretary Rubio to visit Pakistan at an early date.

In response, Secretary Rubio welcomed the call and reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to deepening cooperation with Pakistan.

He praised Pakistan’s adherence to the ceasefire with India and commended its efforts toward regional peace, particularly given its strategic ties with Iran.

Rubio reiterated that the United States intends to work closely with Pakistan to promote peace and stability at both the regional and global levels.