Rubio Defends U.S. Ties With Pakistan, Citing Potential Benefit for India

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington should maintain relations with nuclear-armed Pakistan despite policy differences, arguing that continued contact could help the United States discourage actions that concern India. He described that benefit as a possibility, not a guarantee that engagement would prevent conflict. In an interview, Rubio said Pakistan’s nuclear weapons and strategic geography made it necessary for Washington to interact with Islamabad. He said the United States needed relationships with countries even when it disagreed with them, and that its policy opposed terrorism and anyone who sponsors it. Rubio said a diplomatic channel could give Washington a way to raise concerns with Pakistan. He framed this as one potential benefit of maintaining ties, while the reported remarks did not establish that engagement had reduced security risks. India and Pakistan have a history of strained relations, and each has accused the other of supporting militant groups. Both governments deny the other’s allegations. The remarks came during Rubio’s visit to India and followed his October 20 meeting in Mumbai with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam...