US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has defended Washington’s decision to maintain diplomatic relations with Pakistan, citing the country’s nuclear weapons and strategic importance. Speaking during his visit to India, Rubio said that the United States must engage with countries even when disagreements exist.Rubio explained that his responsibilities as US Secretary of State required him to maintain relations with countries that may have differences with Washington. He said Pakistan’s nuclear capabilities and geographical position made continued diplomatic engagement necessary.
US-Pakistan Ties Could Help Address India’s Security Concerns
Rubio suggested that maintaining communication with Pakistan could also help the United States address India’s security concerns. According to him, keeping diplomatic channels open could allow Washington to discourage actions that New Delhi finds worrying.He also reiterated that the United States opposes terrorism and countries that support it. His remarks came amid questions about Washington’s relationship with Islamabad and whether its approach towards Pakistan had changed.
US Relations With Pakistan Will Not Come at India’s Expense
Addressing concerns about closer US-Pakistan ties, Rubio assured India that Washington’s relationship with Pakistan would not come at the expense of its partnership with New Delhi.He said the United States did not view its relationships with different countries as competing with its ties with India. His comments come at a time when India and the US are discussing trade, defence cooperation, energy and emerging technologies.
Rubio’s statement highlights Washington’s approach of maintaining diplomatic engagement with both India and Pakistan while continuing to address regional security concerns and counterterrorism.
