In Washington, Pakistan says it wants ‘trade, not aid’

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday laid out Islamabad’s foreign policy vision during a speech at the Atlantic Council on Wednesday, emphasizing trade, balanced diplomacy, and a long-term U.S. role in South Asian peace.

“We see trade, not just aid, as the future,” Dar said, calling for an end to transactional ties and a reset of the U.S.-Pakistan relationship based on mutual benefit.

“Our two sides have moved beyond a transactional lens,” he added, according to the excerpt of his speech shared by Pakistan's Foreign Ministry.

The foreign minister's visit to the Washington D.C.-based think tank came as part of his ongoing visit to the U.S. from July 21 to July 28. The peak of the high-level visit was his meeting with Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Dar said Pakistan and the U.S. were close to finalizing a trade deal, with ongoing talks on textiles, digital trade, and agriculture. “Hopefully in days, not in weeks,” he said.

He noted that the U.S. is the largest single-country destination for Pakistani exports, and that Pakistan is the second-largest buyer of U.S. cotton — a relationship he described as a win-win that supports American farmers and Pakistani industries.

Balancing relations with China and US

The speech comes amid rising global tensions and shifting alliances. Dar said Pakistan remains committed to balancing its relations with both China and the U.S.

“China is our strategic partner and the United States is our longstanding friend,” he said. “We hope to see friendly relations between the US and China, and do not wish to be embroiled in bloc politics.”

Dar also highlighted Pakistan’s recent diplomatic outreach, including the signing of the Trans-Afghan Railway project with Afghanistan and Uzbekistan, and his two visits to Kabul in recent months.

On regional security, Dar said Pakistan values U.S. mediation in easing tensions with India. He credited Washington’s diplomatic role in the May 2025 ceasefire between the two nuclear neighbors, which followed the Pahalgam incident and days of military escalation.

Bigger role for US in region

“We are thankful to President Trump and Secretary of State Rubio for facilitating the ceasefire,” Dar said. “But we cannot and must not continue to rely on luck and last-minute interventions.”

He warned against relying on “luck and last-minute interventions,” and urged Washington to play a long-term stabilizing role in South Asia.

"What we need is a sustainable architecture for peace in South Asia.An architecture in which the United States, as a global power and historic partner to both nations, can play a constructive and stabilizing role."

He said India’s attempt to impose a “new normal” had collapsed between May 7 and 10 — referring to the recent military standoff.

He noted recent progress in U.S.-Pakistan ties, describing the current phase as one of "constructive engagement."

He also acknowledged U.S. appreciation for Pakistan’s counterterrorism role, including assistance in capturing the Abbey Gate mastermind Sharifullah.

On Afghanistan, Dar called terrorism from Afghan soil the biggest threat to Pakistan’s security but said Islamabad wanted no conflict with Kabul.

“We have no ask,” he said. “The only ask is: their soil should not be allowed for terrorist activities.”

On Gaza

Turning to the Middle East, Dar expressed concern over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. He condemned the loss of over 50,000 lives and called for an immediate ceasefire and a two-state solution, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as the capital of a future Palestinian state.

On Iran, Dar said Pakistan had worked behind the scenes to de-escalate during the 12-day war between Iran and Israel earlier this year. “We supported regional diplomacy and tried to prevent the enlargement of that war,” he said.

He closed with a message of peace, calling for partnerships rooted in dignity, respect, and regional stability.

“Pakistan seeks peace – with dignity,” he said. “We seek partnerships – grounded in mutual trust and respect. And we seek progress – for our people, for our region, and for the entire world.”