Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is scheduled for a day-long official visit to Washington, DC on May 29, 2026. He will meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to discuss bilateral relations and regional issues, including Pakistan's mediation efforts to resolve the ongoing Iran war [1, 2].
The talks will focus on strengthening cooperation in priority sectors and Pakistan's promotion of regional peace and stability through dialogue and diplomacy [1, 2]. Pakistan has been actively mediating a peace agreement aimed at permanently ending the military conflict involving the US, Israel, and Iran [2]. A ceasefire brokered by Pakistan took effect on April 8, but subsequent negotiations in Islamabad failed to secure a lasting accord. The truce was extended indefinitely by former US President Donald Trump [1].
Tensions in the Middle East escalated sharply in February 2026 after US and Israeli strikes on Iran. Iran responded with retaliatory attacks and the closure of the strategic Strait of Hormuz, which heightened global concerns about regional security [1]. Ishaq Dar recently traveled from Beijing, where he met Chinese President Xi Jinping, to New York to meet US officials at the United Nations on May 28. He then proceeded to Washington for the scheduled meeting with Secretary Rubio [1].
The meetings come amid ongoing international efforts to stabilize the region and prevent further escalation of the conflict. Discussions in Washington will review shared interests and outline steps to deepen cooperation on global and regional developments [1, 2].
