US congratulates Pakistan on Independence Day amid warming of ties

The United States congratulated Pakistan on its Independence Day on Thursday, signaling a resetting of ties.

In a statement issued by the State Department, Secretary of State Marco Rubio extended “warm congratulations to the people of Pakistan” on their 78th Independence Day, celebrated annually on Aug. 14.

“The United States deeply appreciates Pakistan’s engagement on counterterrorism and trade,” Rubio said, adding that Washington looks forward to expanding cooperation in sectors such as critical minerals and hydrocarbons and fostering “dynamic business partnerships” for a prosperous future.

The message comes as Islamabad and Washington have recently enhanced cooperation on counterterrorism. Earlier this week, the two countries held a counterterrorism dialogue in Islamabad, with analysts describing the joint statement as one of the most positive in years — echoing the tone of the immediate post-9/11 era.

Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, has also made two visits to Washington in less than two months, including a lunch at the White House — rare access for a Pakistani military leader and a sign of high-level engagement.

The renewed engagement has also extended to economic and energy discussions, with both sides exploring avenues for U.S. investment in Pakistan’s mineral resources and energy infrastructure. Analysts say the shift reflects shared concerns over regional security, coupled with U.S. interest in diversifying strategic partnerships in South Asia.

Pakistan’s Independence Day this year has been marked by heightened patriotic fervor following what the government calls the Marka-e-Haq — its decisive response to what it described as Indian “unprovoked aggression” in May.

The anniversary celebrations began with a 31-gun salute in Islamabad and 21-gun salutes in provincial capitals, followed by a flag-raising ceremony at the Pakistan Monument attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Sharif used his Independence Day address to call for national unity, invite opposition parties to join a “Charter for Stability of Pakistan” and reaffirm the country’s support for Palestinians and Kashmiris. He also hailed what he called “historic” contributions by overseas Pakistanis, citing $38 billion in remittances over the past year.