Washington D.C. - Amid evolving geopolitical dynamics, the United States is seeking to strengthen its relationship with Pakistan without undermining its "deep, historic, and important" ties with India, according to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Speaking to reporters on Saturday, October 25, 2025, while en route to Qatar, Rubio addressed concerns that Washington's growing engagement with Islamabad might come at the expense of its partnership with New Delhi.
Rubio acknowledged India's concerns, "for obvious reasons because of the tensions that have existed between Pakistan and India historically". However, he expressed confidence in India's "mature" and "pragmatic" approach to foreign policy, emphasizing that the U.S. needs to maintain relations with various countries. "I don't think anything we're doing with Pakistan comes at the expense of our relationship or friendship with India," Rubio asserted.
The Secretary of State highlighted the long history of counterterrorism cooperation between the U.S. and Pakistan and expressed Washington's interest in expanding the relationship beyond that. He noted that the U.S. had reached out to Pakistan to rebuild a strategic alliance even before the recent border conflict between India and Pakistan.
In recent months, there has been a noticeable upswing in U.S.-Pakistan relations. The two countries have signed a critical minerals cooperation agreement and held a counter-terrorism dialogue in Islamabad. President Trump met with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir at the White House in September. A shipment of rare earth materials was also sent from Pakistan to the United States last month as part of the agreement to develop and export rare earth minerals.
Rubio's comments come ahead of his meeting with Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in Kuala Lumpur on Monday, October 27, 2025, on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit. He stated that the U.S. maintains a "deep, historic, and important" friendship with India.
When questioned about India's energy ties with Russia, Rubio noted that New Delhi has expressed interest in diversifying its oil portfolio. He suggested that increased U.S. oil exports could potentially displace India's purchases from other suppliers, including Russia. However, he refrained from commenting on specific trade negotiations.
The Secretary of State's remarks reflect the U.S.'s efforts to balance its strategic interests in South Asia. While seeking to deepen its engagement with Pakistan, particularly in areas such as counterterrorism and critical minerals, the U.S. aims to reassure India that its long-standing partnership remains a priority. This approach underscores the complexities of U.S. foreign policy in a region marked by historical tensions and evolving geopolitical alignments.
