US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Saturday said the United States is trying to balance its activities in Pakistan without undermining its long-standing partnership with India.
“This is part of a mature, pragmatic foreign policy,” Rubio told reporters on the flight to Doha. “I don’t think whatever we are doing with Pakistan is at the expense of our relationship or friendship with India, which is deep, historic and important.”
‘The converse applies’ in diplomacy
Rubio said that just as India maintains relations with countries with which the US does not fully align, Washington will also pursue strategic ties based on its interests.
“Look, we are fully aware of the challenges with respect to India and everything else, but our job is to try to create opportunities for partnerships with countries where it is possible,” he said. “And we have a long history of partnership with Pakistan on counter-terrorism and things of that nature. We would like to expand that beyond that, if possible.”
Reconstruction of Pakistan Partnership
Rubio said he had contacted Pakistan even before the recent escalation of tensions between Islamabad and New Delhi. The US, he said, is “interested in rebuilding an alliance, a strategic partnership.”
Peace claims disputed by India
Pakistan and India came close to full-scale conflict in May. Trump has claimed that he used trade pressure to bring the two sides to the negotiating table. India rejected this claim, while Pakistan praised his intervention and even nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize at that time.
The Trump administration has expanded trade and strategic cooperation with Pakistan, including agreements related to oil and critical minerals. In contrast, President Donald Trump imposed a 50% tariff on Indian exports to the US, much higher than Pakistan’s 19% rate.
On Sunday, Trump oversaw a peace deal between Thailand and Cambodia, and took advantage of the moment to promote his conflict mediation efforts. He also praised Pakistan’s leadership, describing Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir as “great people”.
Talks with India at ASEAN Summit
Rubio is likely to meet India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit on Monday. The agenda is expected to include bilateral trade talks and continued purchases of Russian oil by India.
President Trump has demanded that India halt its oil imports from Russia, arguing that the revenue fuels Moscow’s war efforts in Ukraine.
oil diversification plans
The US recently imposed sanctions on two major Russian oil suppliers. Rubio said India has assured Washington that it intends to diversify its energy purchases.
“The more we sell to them, the less they’ll buy from anyone else,” he said.
