US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed on Sunday that US relations with Pakistan will not affect his country's partnership with India, stressing the need to maintain multiple ties consistent with the United States' global interests.
Rubio clarified in an interview with "India Today" that US-Pakistan relations are not new but have evolved to enable Washington to exert greater influence on Islamabad's decisions on various issues, emphasizing that this relationship in no way comes at the expense of their relationship with India.
Constructive role to prevent war
The US minister pointed out that the United States and India share the same concerns regarding terrorism, in the context of historical tensions between the two countries dating back to the partition of the Indian subcontinent in 1947 and the dispute over Kashmir.
Regarding the possibility of tensions escalating into a wider conflict, Rubio confirmed Washington's readiness to play a constructive role between the two countries, stating: "I can confidently assure that the United States is ready to play a constructive role, because we do not want to see a war."
Upcoming trade agreement
On the other hand, Rubio stated that the United States and India are very close to reaching a trade agreement, as negotiations for the bilateral agreement date back to February 2025, when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump agreed to negotiate to increase trade exchange to $500 billion by 2030.
Negotiations effectively began in March of the same year, with both sides holding several rounds regarding the reduction of tariffs, removal of non-tariff barriers, and expanding market access.
Source: Anadolu Agency
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