Pakistan says it's 'very close' to US trade deal, but Washington stays silent

UPDATED: Jul 26, 2025 06:55 IST

Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said Friday that Islamabad is on the verge of sealing a long-awaited trade deal with the United States, but American officials offered no timeline.

“I think we are very close to finalizing a deal with the US,” Dar told an audience at the Atlantic Council in Washington. “Our teams have been here... discussing, having virtual meetings, and a committee has been tasked by the prime minister to fine-tune now.”

He added confidently: “It’s not going to be months, not even weeks — I would say days.”

Despite Dar’s optimism, the US side struck a more cautious tone. A State Department readout of Dar’s meeting with Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasised bilateral discussions on trade, critical minerals, and mining, but it made no mention of any imminent deal or specific timeline.

Rubio also posted about the meeting on X, noting “productive talks” with Dar on “regional stability and economic partnership,” but similarly omitted any reference to a forthcoming agreement.

Dar, however, hinted that high-level political backing is already in place. He praised the role of US leaders, saying Pakistan appreciated “the pivotal role” played by President Donald Trump and Secretary Rubio in helping de-escalate tensions with India.

Trump has repeatedly taken credit for the India-Pakistan ceasefire he announced on social media on May 10 after Washington held talks with both sides. India disputes Trump's claims that the ceasefire resulted from his intervention and trade threats.

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