US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that maintaining relations with Pakistan is important, stressing that Washington can use its influence to discourage actions that could lead to conflict.

Rubio made the remarks in an interview with Indian newspaper The Indian Express during his two-day visit to India, amid concerns in New Delhi over Washington’s growing ties with Pakistan and China.

Seeking to reassure India, Rubio said the United States’ relationship with any other country would not come at the expense of its ties with India.

“Whatever relationship we have with any other country in the world, it will never be at the cost of or to the detriment of our relationship with India,” he said.

Responding to questions about the Trump administration’s close ties with Pakistan’s Chief of Defence Forces, Asim Munir, Rubio said Washington did not view its relationship with India in terms of choosing between countries.

He also cautioned against comparing the current geopolitical situation with the 1970s, when the administration of US President Richard Nixon and national security adviser Henry Kissinger pursued a policy in South Asia that leaned significantly towards Pakistan’s military government under General Yahya Khan.

Rubio said maintaining relations with Pakistan could serve a constructive purpose if Washington used its influence to discourage steps that might trigger a potential conflict.

He argued that such engagement could produce positive outcomes by helping prevent actions that could heighten regional tensions.

The comments come as Washington seeks to maintain strategic ties with both India and Pakistan, two South Asian countries with a long history of rivalry.

Rubio also acknowledged the complexities involved in efforts to end Russia’s four-year war in Ukraine, noting the challenges facing attempts to bring the conflict to a close.

Source: Jugantor, October 21, 2026. <Cite refs={[“turn285560news4″,”turn285560news6”]}/>