News Desk: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that Washington’s close relationship with Pakistan will not come at the expense of its partnership with India. He stressed that both countries share similar concerns over terrorism and remain committed to tackling the threat.
Speaking in an interview with India Today on Thursday, October 22, Rubio addressed concerns about whether stronger US-Pakistan ties could weaken India’s efforts to combat terrorism. He said Washington’s engagement with Islamabad would not undermine its relationship with New Delhi.
“In no way does the relationship with Pakistan come at the expense of our relationship with India,” Rubio said, adding that the two countries “share the same concerns” about terrorism.
Rubio made the remarks at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai, one of the sites targeted during the November 26, 2008, Mumbai terror attacks. The attacks killed more than 160 people, including six US nationals.
US Seeks Greater Influence Over Pakistan
Rubio acknowledged that the United States has global interests that require it to maintain diplomatic relations with several countries, including Pakistan. He argued that continued engagement with Islamabad could give Washington greater influence over its decisions on a range of issues.
The US secretary of state also defended Washington’s record on counterterrorism, pointing to American operations against the Islamic State and Al-Qaeda. He referred to the killing of Al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden as an example of the country’s efforts to combat terrorism.
His comments come at a time when India continues to emphasise the need for international cooperation against cross-border terrorism.
Trade and Defence Dominate India Visit
During his visit to India, Rubio held talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. Their discussions covered several key areas, including trade, energy, defence, technology and people-to-people ties.
Rubio also met prominent Indian business leaders, including Tata Group chairman N Chandrasekaran and Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani. He subsequently travelled to Jamnagar to visit Reliance Industries’ refinery with chairman Mukesh Ambani.
Speaking about the proposed India-US trade agreement, Rubio indicated that the two countries were close to reaching a deal, with only a few issues remaining to be resolved.
### Immigration and Russian Oil Also Discussed
Rubio sought to address concerns over tighter US immigration rules, saying the changes were part of a broader effort to reform the country’s immigration system rather than measures specifically targeting India.
He also discussed India’s purchases of Russian crude oil, acknowledging that reducing dependence on Russian energy would be difficult in the short term. Rubio said the importance of maintaining strong relations with India had been a factor in US President Donald Trump’s decision to waive tariffs linked to purchases of Russian energy.
His remarks underline Washington’s attempt to maintain strategic cooperation with India while continuing diplomatic engagement with Pakistan.
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