What happened
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington on Friday 29 May 2026, in a visit that followed Dar’s engagements at the United Nations in New York.
According to a Foreign Office statement, the two leaders expressed satisfaction over the positive momentum in Pakistan-United States relations and exchanged views on the evolving regional and global situation. Rubio acknowledged Pakistan’s “sincere diplomatic and mediatory efforts for peace and stability in the region and beyond”, the statement said, and both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in trade and investment, security and counterterrorism.
Separately, the US State Department said Rubio thanked Dar for “the constructive role Pakistan continues to play in realising President Trump’s vision for peace in the Middle East and its mediation efforts with Iran”, and that the two agreed on the importance of building a partnership that fosters security and prosperity for both countries. In a post on X, Rubio said he had “thanked [DPM Dar] for the role Pakistan continues to play in advancing peace in the Middle East”.
Pakistan’s account
Speaking at a press conference at Pakistan’s embassy in Washington, Dar said the meeting took place in a “cordial” atmosphere and was attended by Pakistan’s ambassador and senior Foreign Office officials. He said Pakistan had helped facilitate ceasefires between the United States and Iran and had helped create the conditions for direct engagement between them, adding that both the first ceasefire and the latest truce had become possible through Islamabad’s efforts.
Dar said he and his team were “very satisfied” with the talks, and that Pakistan had gained a “new identity on the global horizon” under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff and Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Field Marshal Asim Munir. He maintained that Pakistan could not divulge details of the talks “because we are deeply invested in the peace process”, and said he had proposed substantive discussions on building a strategic partnership, a proposal he said was accepted. He added that Rubio agreed to visit Pakistan later in the year.
The wider context
The meeting took place as President Donald Trump weighed a possible agreement with Iran. In a post on Truth Social on Friday, Trump said he would meet in the White House Situation Room to make a “final determination” on a deal. He listed conditions including that Iran agree not to develop a nuclear weapon, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, remove sea mines, lift the US blockade on Iran, and that the United States remove and destroy Iran’s highly enriched uranium. “No money will be exchanged, until further notice,” he said.
On the question of normalisation with Israel, Dar reiterated Pakistan’s longstanding position. Asked whether Washington was pressing Muslim countries to join the Abraham Accords, he said Pakistan “remains steadfast in its position on Palestine and Gaza” and that Israel “must move towards the establishment of a Palestinian state” before there could be any change in Islamabad’s stance.
Why it matters
The meeting underscored Pakistan’s unusually visible role in regional diplomacy, with Washington publicly crediting Islamabad’s mediation between the United States and Iran while both sides sought to widen cooperation on trade, security and counterterrorism. It also reaffirmed that Pakistan’s position on Israel and Palestine remains tied to the creation of a Palestinian state.
Sources & reporting notes
This is a summary of published reporting, not independent reporting. Quotations are as carried by the cited outlets. Sources reviewed on 2026-05-29.
- Geo News — "In meeting with DPM Dar, Rubio hails Pakistan's peace efforts in Middle East"29 May 2026 · Reports the FO statement, Rubio's remarks, Dar's press conference and Trump's stated conditions for a deal.
- Dawn — "Pakistan firmly committed to stance on Palestine, Israel: Dar answers question on Abraham Accords"29 May 2026 · Carries Dar's remarks on Palestine and Israel and the US State Department statement.
