Pakistan Signals Imminent U.S. Trade Deal Amid Critical Minerals Talks

Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar announced Friday that Islamabad and Washington are “very close” to finalizing a trade deal, potentially within days. Speaking at the Atlantic Council in Washington, Dar said negotiations have intensified, with dedicated committees fine-tuning the agreement.

“I think we are very close… It’s not going to be months, not even weeks, I would say days,” Dar emphasized. The remarks followed his meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, though U.S. statements provided no specific timeline.

The discussions highlight growing cooperation in trade and critical minerals, key sectors as both nations seek to strengthen economic and strategic ties. Under U.S. President Donald Trump, Washington has renegotiated multiple trade agreements, often citing unfair trade practices.

Pakistan’s foreign ministry noted Dar praised Trump and Rubio for their role in facilitating the May 10 ceasefire between Pakistan and India following deadly clashes in Kashmir. India, however, disputes U.S. involvement, insisting bilateral issues must be resolved directly between New Delhi and Islamabad.

The ceasefire came after a militant attack on April 22 in India-administered Kashmir killed 26 people, sparking retaliatory strikes and days of cross-border hostilities. While Washington condemned the attack, it did not assign blame to Pakistan, which denies involvement and calls for a neutral investigation.

The prospective trade deal, if finalized, could mark a significant step in U.S.-Pakistan relations, particularly in energy, mining, and security cooperation, as both nations navigate complex regional tensions.