Rubio Defends US-Pakistan Ties, Says Engagement Could Help Address India’s Security Concerns
By Arshad Mehmood / The Media Line
[ISLAMABAD] US Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended Washington’s relationship with nuclear-armed Pakistan during his visit to India, saying continued diplomatic engagement with Islamabad could help discourage activities that threaten Indian security.
Speaking to Indian broadcaster News18 in Mumbai on Tuesday, October 20, Rubio said maintaining relations with Pakistan was necessary despite disagreements over terrorism and other security concerns.
“In the case of Pakistan, it’s a country that we have to have a relationship with.”
Rubio pointed to Pakistan’s nuclear weapons and strategic location, arguing that Washington needed channels of communication with Islamabad. He compared the relationship to India’s diplomatic engagement with Iran, saying countries must maintain ties that serve their foreign policy interests.
He suggested that continued US engagement could help Washington influence Pakistan and discourage actions that concern New Delhi.
Rubio was responding to a question about whether his position had changed since his time in the US Senate, when he had advocated measures against Pakistan over concerns about terrorism.
“We’re against terrorism anywhere in the world,” Rubio said.
He explained that his responsibilities as secretary of state required him to manage relationships with countries even when Washington disagreed with some of their policies.
In a separate interview with The Indian Express, Rubio rejected suggestions that closer US-Pakistan relations could undermine Washington’s partnership with New Delhi.
He said, “Our relationship with no country in the world at any way comes at the expense of our relationship with India.”
Rubio emphasized India’s importance as a democratic, economic, and strategic partner, pointing to cooperation in defense, trade, and regional security.
His visit also focused on energy cooperation and efforts to finalize a bilateral trade agreement. He said negotiations were nearing completion, with the remaining disagreements largely concerning the precise wording of the deal.
Addressing US tariffs affecting India over its purchases of Russian oil, Rubio said the measures were part of Washington’s broader foreign policy efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war, rather than an attempt to punish New Delhi.
The secretary of state also discussed plans to visit Reliance Industries’ major oil-refining complex in Jamnagar, Gujarat, as Washington seeks closer energy cooperation with India.
Rubio’s remarks reflected the US administration’s effort to preserve relations with both South Asian nuclear powers while maintaining India’s position as a major strategic partner.
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