Washington: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday expressed appreciation for Pakistan's continued willingness to play a constructive role in mediating conversations with Iran and its commitment to preserving regional stability during a meeting with Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.

According to Anadolu Agency, the two also discussed prospects for deepening bilateral counterterrorism cooperation, including countering ISIS-K, and the upcoming U.S.-Pakistan Counterterrorism Dialogue in Islamabad this August. The State Department highlighted the importance of expanding mutually beneficial bilateral trade and exploring prospects for enhancing collaboration in the critical minerals and mining sectors.

In a post on X, Dar described the meeting as 'a comprehensive discussion on the full spectrum of bilateral relations,' reaffirming Pakistan's commitment to a long-term partnership with the US. He said the talks included a renewed focus on economic, trade, investment, IT/AI, and counterterrorism cooperation.

Dar also noted that they exchanged views on key regional and global developments and expressed appreciation for what he called the US' "constructive role" in facilitating the recent Pakistan-India ceasefire. This ceasefire followed a four-day standoff between Islamabad and New Delhi in May, triggered by an attack in Indian-administered Kashmir in April that left 26 tourists dead.

New Delhi blamed Islamabad for the attack, but Islamabad denied the allegations and called for a neutral investigation. The hostilities ended after US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire on May 10. The two nuclear neighbors have long been locked in a slew of land and sea disputes, mainly over long-standing Kashmir and water sharing.