Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is scheduled to meet United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington today to discuss Pakistan’s initiatives aimed at fostering peace in the Middle East. The meeting will also cover the review of bilateral relations and an exchange of perspectives on regional and global developments of shared interest.
Discussions are expected to emphasize enhancing cooperation in key priority sectors alongside Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts to promote regional stability through dialogue. This visit underscores Pakistan’s dedication to strengthening its longstanding and multifaceted partnership with the United States.
After concluding his official engagements in Washington, Dar will return to Islamabad later the same day. The timing of this meeting is significant, as tensions in the Middle East have escalated following renewed confrontations between the US and Iran.
Iran recently targeted a US air base in Kuwait in retaliation for US strikes on what Washington described as an Iranian drone operation near the Strait of Hormuz. These incidents, though limited, reveal the fragile nature of ongoing negotiations aimed at converting the tentative ceasefire established in early April into a lasting peace agreement. The conflict, which has lasted three months, has resulted in thousands of casualties and disrupted a crucial shipping route.
US Central Command reported that US forces intercepted five Iranian attack drones and destroyed a ground control station in Bandar Abbas, which was preparing to launch a sixth drone. Kuwaiti forces also intercepted a ballistic missile aimed at the country, which hosts a significant US military base. A US official described these actions as measured and defensive, intended to uphold the ceasefire.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed responsibility for targeting the US base linked to an early morning attack near Bandar Abbas airport, warning that any further attacks would provoke a stronger response.
Since hostilities began on February 28, Pakistan has played a crucial role as a mediator between Washington and Tehran. The conflict started after coordinated US and Israeli strikes on Iran, followed by Iranian retaliatory attacks on US bases in the region. A ceasefire brokered by Pakistan took effect on April 8, lasting two weeks.
Subsequently, Islamabad hosted peace talks between delegations from both countries on April 11 and 12, although these discussions ended without a permanent resolution. Despite the stalemate, Pakistan continues to facilitate communication between the US and Iran in efforts to resolve their longstanding disputes.
