US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told India Today that Washington's expanding relationship with Pakistan could allow the United States to wield greater influence over the decisions made in Islamabad on a variety of issues.
The comments were made during a joint interview recorded on October 22 at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai, alongside US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor. The State Department has released the full transcript.
What Rubio Said
When asked how the United States would reassure India that closer ties with Pakistan would not undermine India's fight against terrorism, Rubio responded, "So, our relationship with Pakistan is not new. And I think it's just developed in a way that allows us to have hopefully more influence over the decisions they make on a variety of topics."
He added that the United States needs relationships with many nations because of its global presence and interests, noting, "In no way does the relationship with Pakistan come at the expense of our relationship with India."
A short clip of the influence remark is now circulating widely on social media.
Role During India-Pakistan Tensions
Rubio also discussed Washington's part in last year's India-Pakistan encounter, saying the US used its long-standing ties with India and its improved relationship with Pakistan to prevent the situation from escalating into a broader conflict.
"We'd prefer not to see war," he said, adding that the United States would rather see both countries cooperate in business and commerce.
The remarks arrive as engagement between Islamabad and Washington has increased this year, including discussions on US investment in Pakistan's AI sector.
Earlier, the Foreign Office had also clarified reports about Dar and Rubio exchanging Iran nuclear information.
