Dar holds talks with Rubio in Washington

WASHINGTON: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met US Secretary of State and National Security Adviser Marco Rubio on Friday, and the two leaders also participated in a photo opportunity before the talks.

A joint statement is expected later in the day, while Dar is also scheduled to address a press conference.

He reached Washington for the meeting earlier in the day, the Foreign Office (FO) said.

The development comes as Islamabad is attempting to negotiate a peace pact to end the US-Israeli war with Iran. Vice President JD Vance has said the two sides were “close” to reaching a deal but “not there yet”.

Dar reached Washington after a three-day visit to New York for meetings linked to the United Nations. Upon his arrival, he was received by Pakistan’s Ambassador to the US Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, along with senior officials of the Pakistani embassy.

In an earlier statement, the FO said Dar and Rubio would “review bilateral relations and exchange views on regional and global developments of mutual interest”.

“The discussions will also focus on strengthening cooperation in key priority sectors, as well as Pakistan’s efforts to promote regional peace and stability through dialogue and diplomacy,” the FO elaborated.

It added that the visit “reflects Pakistan’s commitment to further deepening its longstanding and broad-based partnership with the United States”.

The deputy premier is expected to leave for Islamabad later in the day after wrapping up his engagements in Washington.

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 Donald Trump’s approval, US sources told AFP on Thursday.

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