During his weekly press briefing, Rubio was asked directly if India had expressed any objections or concerns regarding the strengthening U.S.-Pakistan ties.
In response, the Secretary of State said, “No, not really.” While he acknowledged that India’s concerns are “natural” given its tensions with Pakistan, he stated, “India has to understand that we have to have relationships with many countries.”
Rubio described India’s diplomatic approach as “mature and realistic,” pointing out that India also maintains ties with nations that the U.S. does not, calling this a part of practical foreign policy.
He stated unequivocally, “I don’t think what we are doing with Pakistan is at the cost of [our relationship with] India.”
The Secretary of State highlighted the long-standing counter-terrorism cooperation with Pakistan and expressed a desire to broaden this partnership. He also noted that Pakistan had praised President Trump’s role in de-escalating a potential war with India, which helps build trust.
He concluded by calling the recent improvement in U.S.-Pakistan relations “encouraging,” reiterating that this progress “is not at the expense of India or any other country.”
