Pakistani FM Ishaq Dar said that Pakistan and the United States are 'very close' to finalising a trade agreement, suggesting the deal could be reached within days. However, U.S. officials made no mention of a specific timeline following Dar’s meeting with Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Speaking at the Atlantic Council in Washington, Dar noted that bilateral discussions had progressed significantly, with both sides holding in-person and virtual meetings. “A committee appointed by the prime minister is now working to fine-tune the agreement,” he said, adding that its conclusion is expected in a matter of days, not weeks or months.
Under President Donald Trump, the U.S. has pursued the revision of multiple trade deals, often citing unfair practices and threatening tariffs—claims that many economists contest.
Following the Dar-Rubio meeting, both the U.S. State Department and Pakistan’s foreign ministry released statements highlighting the importance of deepening trade ties, particularly in the areas of critical minerals and mining. However, neither statement provided a timeline for finalising the deal. Rubio’s social media post after the meeting also avoided mentioning any deadlines.
Pakistan’s foreign ministry also acknowledged what it described as the significant role played by Trump and Rubio in helping to defuse tensions between Pakistan and India, referring to their efforts in facilitating a ceasefire. The U.S. State Department’s statement, however, made no reference to India.
Trump has repeatedly credited himself for brokering the ceasefire between India and Pakistan, which he announced on social media on May 10 after U.S.-led talks with both sides. India has rejected this version of events, maintaining that it does not accept foreign mediation and that any issues with Pakistan should be resolved bilaterally.
The ceasefire followed a deadly April 22 militant attack in India-administered Kashmir, which left 26 dead and triggered intense cross-border clashes. On May 7, India carried out strikes on Pakistani territory, prompting retaliatory attacks and a three-day escalation before the ceasefire was declared.
India blamed the April attack on Pakistan, which denied any involvement and called for an impartial international investigation. While Washington condemned the violence, it did not publicly assign blame to Islamabad.
A blast at a fireworks factory in China's Hunan province has killed dozens of people and inj...
Tensions are escalating in the Gulf after new attacks linked to maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. forces say they struck Iranian fast...
Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar has warned that global energy supply disruptions caused by the ongoing Middle East conflict are likely ...
One of the region’s largest defence and aerospace exhibitions has opened in Istanbul, bringing together companies, officials and industry exp...
Energy transition, private sector development and regional cooperation are in focus at the Asian Development Bank’s 59th Annual Meeting in Sa...
A blast at a fireworks factory in China's Hunan province has killed dozens of people and injured more than 60, prompting President Xi Jinping to call for a thorough investigation, state media reported on Tuesday.
Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar has warned that global energy supply disruptions caused by the ongoing Middle East conflict are likely to persist.
One of the region’s largest defence and aerospace exhibitions has opened in Istanbul, bringing together companies, officials and industry experts from around the world.
The eighth European Political Community summit brought dozens of world leaders to Yerevan, signalling Europe’s deepening interest in the South Caucasus.
A 77-year-old man and a 63-year-old woman were killed on Monday (4 May), after a man drove a car into a crowd on a pedestrianised street in the the eastern German city of Leipzig, authorities said.
Iran warned Armerican forces on Monday (4 May) not to enter the Strait of Hormuz, after the U.S. said it had launched a mission to try and reopen the sea passage. Meanwhile, Iran's Foreign Minister said there was no military solution to the Middle East conflict.
Tensions are escalating in the Gulf after new attacks linked to maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. forces say they struck Iranian fast boats at sea following hostile manoeuvres, after Iran was blamed for an earlier attack on a UAE oil facility.
Medics are working to evacuate two people with symptoms of the deadly respiratory illness, hantavirus, from a luxury cruise ship being held off West Africa, after three people died and several others fell ill, officials have said.
Uzbekistan has unveiled a series of major economic and regional initiatives as more than 4,000 delegates from over 100 countries gather in Samarkand for the 59th Annual Meeting of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), held under the theme “Crossroads of Progress.”
A Russian overnight missile and drone attack on Ukraine’s gas production facilities has killed five people, including two rescue workers, Ukrainian officials said, as Kyiv and Moscow exchanged competing ceasefire proposals.
Sudan’s armed forces have accused the United Arab Emirates and Ethiopia of carrying out a drone attack targeting Khartoum airport, as a renewed wave of strikes shattered months of relative calm in the capital nearly three years into the civil war.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 5th of May, covering the latest developments you need to know.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Monday (4 May) that meteorological monitoring equipment at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in south-eastern Ukraine had been damaged by a drone.
A blast at a fireworks factory in China's Hunan province has killed dozens of people and injured more than 60, prompting President Xi Jinping to call for a thorough investigation, state media reported on Tuesday.
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