WASHINGTON: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on Friday that Pakistan remained firmly committed to its longstanding position on Palestine and Gaza and that there could be no change in Islamabad’s stance towards Israel without the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
He said this during a press conference at Pakistan’s embassy in Washington after a meeting with Rubio. Dar’s statement was in response to a question about US President Donald Trump urging Muslim countries to join the Abraham Accords as part of a deal with Iran and whether any discussion with Rubio were held on the matter.
In his response to the question, Dar also said he had reiterated Pakistan’s position during his engagements at the United Nations earlier this week.
“Pakistan remains constantly steadfast on its position on Palestine and Gaza,” Dar said, adding that Israel “must move towards the establishment of a Palestinian state for any change in Pakistan’s stance on Israel”.
The Abraham Accords are a set of agreements brokered under Trump in 2020 and govern the normalisation of diplomatic relations between Israel and countries that have historically been hostile to it.
The nations named by Trump, including Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, have traditionally advocated for a two-state solution between Palestine and Israel as a precursor to any discussions on the normalisation of relations with Israel.
Mediation efforts appreciated
During his press conference, Dar said Washington “deeply appreciates” Pakistan’s efforts aimed at easing tensions between Iran and the United States, noting that this recognition was conveyed during his meeting with the US secretary of state.
He referred to a statement issued by the US State Department after the meeting, which said that “the Secretary thanked the minister for the constructive role Pakistan continues to play […] for peace in the Middle East and its mediation efforts with Iran.”
The statement added that the two sides agreed on the “importance of working together to further strengthen a meaningful partnership that fosters security and prosperity for both Americans and Pakistanis”.
Later, Rubio shared this in an X post as well.
In a separate statement attributed to State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott, Washington said Rubio had met Dar in Washington and discussed bilateral cooperation as well as regional security issues.
It added that Rubio also expressed his condolences for the victims of the terrorist attack in Quetta on Sunday, in which a suicide bombing targeting a shuttle train claimed more than 10 lives and left several others injured.
“The secretary and the deputy prime Minister agreed on the importance of working together to further strengthen a meaningful partnership that fosters security and prosperity for both Americans and Pakistanis,” the statement said.
Meanwhile, a statement issued by the Foreign Office (FO) in Islamabad also said that Rubio acknowledged Pakistan’s “sincere diplomatic and mediatory efforts for peace and stability in the region and beyond”.
It further said the two leaders “expressed satisfaction over the positive momentum in the Pak-US bilateral relations and exchanged views on the evolving regional and global situation”.
“The two sides agreed to strengthen the bilateral cooperation in all areas of mutual interest including trade and investment, security, and counter-terrorism.
“They also agreed to advance Pak-US partnership, propelled by high-level exchanges and shared interests in regional peace, security and prosperity,” it added.
Dar also separately commented on the “very good” meeting with Rubio, saying, “Always a pleasure to engage with him on further strengthening Pak-US bilateral relations and advancing our shared goals of peace, stability, and prosperity for our two countries and the wider region.”
During his press conference, Dar also maintained the cautious approach reflected in the two official statements, emphasising that he was not in a position to divulge further details of his talks with Rubio and other American and Iranian officials. He added, however, that he was very hopeful Pakistan’s efforts would help achieve comprehensive peace in the Middle East.
“Pakistan cannot compromise its role as a mediator by divulging details of the talks because we are deeply invested in the peace process,” he said.
The foreign minister said he and his team, which included Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, were “very satisfied” with their talks with Secretary Rubio.
“We are the mediators and, as such, we are required to maintain secrecy,” he said, adding that both the Americans and the Iranians appreciated Pakistan’s approach.
Dar said it was not only the United States and Iran but also countries across the globe that were appreciating Pakistan’s efforts.
“The mediation has brought global recognition for us, as did our victory against India [in May 2025],” he added.
Dar said Qatar, Oman and several other countries had also expressed interest in hosting the talks, but Pakistan was chosen because of its close and friendly relations with all parties involved in the conflict.
When reminded that the United States traditionally maintained a transactional relationship with Pakistan and asked whether the country’s current mediatory role could lead to a more substantive and strategic partnership, Dar said that during Friday’s meeting he proposed holding substantive discussions on building a strategic partnership, and that his proposal was accepted.
Rubio, he said, also agreed to visit Pakistan later this year. He did not say whether the next round of US-Pakistan talks would be held in Islamabad, but emphasised that Pakistan would continue to play a key role in the process.
Dar travelled to New York earlier this week to participate in a China-sponsored discussion at the UN Security Council on the role of the United Nations in resolving global disputes. Dar reached Washington for his meeting with Rubio earlier on Friday. Upon his arrival, he was received by Pakistan’s Ambassador to the US Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, along with senior officials of the Pakistani embassy.
The visit comes amid reports in American media that US and Iranian negotiators have edged toward a deal to extend their fragile ceasefire for 60 days.
But the potential breakthrough was still hanging on President Trump’s approval, who said on Friday he was making a “final determination” on the Iran deal.
The US sources confirmed reporting by Axios that the two sides had agreed on a memorandum of understanding to prolong the ceasefire and launch negotiations on Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
Under the proposed deal, shipping through the Strait of Hormuz would be unrestricted, with no tolls or harassment; Iran would remove all mines within 30 days; and the US would lift its naval blockade if commercial traffic resumes, Axios reported.
But Iran’s Tasnim news agency, citing a source close to Tehran’s negotiators, said the text had not been finalised and that Pakistan would be informed if a deal was reached.
Iranian sources cited by local media said any deal would be complete only when announced by Tehran, not unilaterally by Trump.
Additional input from AFP
