In their first official conversation, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar discussed ways to enhance counterterrorism cooperation, with a key focus on the return of US military equipment left in Afghanistan following the 2021 withdrawal.

According to a statement issued by Pakistan’s Foreign Office, the two leaders also spoke about bilateral relations, regional security, and economic cooperation.

“During the call, DPM/FM Dar reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with the United States. He emphasised the importance of cooperation in trade, investment, and counter-terrorism,” the statement read.

Secretary Rubio affirmed a similar sentiment, expressing Washington’s interest in collaborating with Islamabad in areas such as trade and investment, particularly in critical minerals.

“He said that economic and trade cooperation would be the hallmark of future relations between the two countries,” the statement added.

The primary emphasis, however, remained on counterterrorism. Dar highlighted Pakistan’s efforts in combating terrorism between 2013 and 2018, pointing out the human and economic toll the country has endured.

“Secretary Rubio also appreciated Pakistan’s efforts in the fight against terrorism and expressed the US desire to further enhance counter-terrorism cooperation,” the press release stated.

Both sides also discussed Afghanistan, with a particular focus on resolving the issue of US military equipment still present in the region.

The timing of the call is significant, coming just a day after President Donald Trump announced steep tariffs on several countries, including China, prompting retaliatory action from Beijing and sending shockwaves through global and Asian stock markets.

In response, Pakistan is preparing to send a high-level delegation to Washington to explore how the new US tariff regime could be leveraged into a mutually beneficial opportunity.

“You should never let a good crisis go to waste. We are looking at it both as a challenge as well as an opportunity,” said Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb.