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ISLAMABAD: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told lawmakers during a congressional hearing that the United States is continuing discussions with several countries to resettle more than 1,000 Afghans who assisted US forces and remain stranded abroad, according to a report by Kabul Tribune.&nbsp; Rubio said the administration is engaging with multiple governments to identify solutions for Afghan allies, many of whom have been waiting in Qatar for more than a year as immigration restrictions limit their entry into the United States. While defending the administration&#39;s refugee policies, Rubio said no final decisions have been made regarding relocation destinations. He added that responsibility for resettling the affected Afghans would likely be shared among several countries rather than handled by a single nation. US officials have discussed potential resettlement arrangements with countries including Botswana and Malaysia as they seek options for those awaiting permanent relocation. The issue drew scrutiny from lawmakers during the hearing. Rep. Grace Meng, a Democrat from New York, questioned why Afghan allies who had previously undergone US vetting procedures have not been admitted despite commitments made.&nbsp; Advocacy groups warned that returning the refugees to Afghanistan could expose them to retaliation by the Taliban because of their past support for the American military. Proposals to relocate some Afghans to other conflict-affected regions have also faced criticism from humanitarian organizations. Rubio said the administration remains committed to finding solutions but emphasized that current directives restrict the admission of many Afghans into the United States. Rubio also defended broader refugee policies, including the admission of white South Africans, saying immigration decisions are guided by US national interests and the ability of newcomers to integrate into American society. The debate over the future of Afghan allies remains ongoing as policymakers weigh humanitarian obligations against immigration and national security considerations.

The hearing was held to examine the State Department's budget request for fiscal year 2027. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Kevin Dietsch / NORTH AMERICA / AFP)

Afghanistan

The US is negotiating with multiple countries to resettle over 1,000 stranded Afghan allies as immigration restrictions continue to delay their entry into America.

US seeks third-country resettlement options for Afghan allies: Rubio

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is scheduled to visit Washington on Friday for talks with US Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Marco Rubio, as Islamabad and Washington continue diplomatic engagement on regional peace, security and bilateral cooperation.&nbsp;According to Pakistan&rsquo;s Foreign Office, Dar will travel to Washington after concluding meetings at the United Nations Security Council and other engagements in New York.&nbsp;The two sides are expected to review bilateral relations and exchange views on regional and global developments of mutual interest.&nbsp;&ldquo;The discussions will also focus on strengthening cooperation in key priority sectors, as well as Pakistan&rsquo;s efforts to promote regional peace and stability through dialogue and diplomacy,&rdquo; the Foreign Office said in a statement. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2059968087022252182&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=6a8ffee7b0702d86243ee54e8fd8d368e3af6e19&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 874px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>&nbsp;The visit comes amid heightened diplomatic activity linked to the Middle East crisis, maritime security concerns and ongoing efforts to preserve the Iran-US ceasefire framework.&nbsp;Pakistan has played an active diplomatic role in recent months, maintaining engagement with Tehran, Washington, Gulf states and other international partners as negotiations continue over broader regional stability and reopening maritime trade routes through the Strait of Hormuz.&nbsp;The Foreign Office said the visit reflects Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to &ldquo;further deepening its longstanding and broad-based partnership with the United States.&rdquo;&nbsp;Dar is expected to return to Islamabad following the completion of his official engagements in Washington later the same day.

Foreign Affairs

Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will visit Washington on May 29 to meet Marco Rubio to discuss bilateral ties, regional developments, and Pakistan’s efforts for Middle East peace and stability.

Pakistan FM, Rubio to discuss regional peace during Washington talks

CERNAY LA VILLE: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday arrived at a meeting of G7 foreign ministers in France for talks expected to be dominated by tensions over the war against Iran, an AFP correspondent said. Making his first trip abroad since the US-Israeli war on Iran broke out on Feb. 28, Rubio is expected to be pressed by European and other allies over American strategy for the further conduct of the conflict, which has led to a spike in global energy prices. His attendance at the second day of the meeting at the Vaux-de-Cernay Abbey outside Paris comes after US President Donald Trump on Thursday pushed back his deadline for strikes on Iran&#39;s energy assets to April 6 in the latest twist in Washington&#39;s plans. Trump posted on his Truth Social platform that talks with Iran, whose nature remains largely unclear, &quot;are going very well&quot;. The talks of the G7 group of industrialized democracies, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, the UK, and the United States will include sessions on Iran and also on Ukraine, which European ministers have insisted must not be forgotten. The meeting is due to wrap up with a news conference from French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot at 1500 GMT.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga, EU High Representative and Vice-President for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas, Britain's Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan, Germany's Foreign Minist

Europe

Marco Rubio joined Group of Seven foreign ministers in France as talks focused on the Iran war, US strategy and rising global tensions.

US Secretary of State Rubio arrives at G7 foreign ministers meeting in France

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sidelines of the Board of Peace Leaders&rsquo; meeting in Washington, said a press release issued by the Prime Minister&#39;s Office on Friday. The prime minister was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, it said. The prime minister congratulated President Donald Trump and Secretary Rubio on the successful inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace and reaffirmed that Pakistan was ready to work with the Board of Peace for the implementation ofthe&nbsp; Gaza Peace Plan. Pakistan-US strategic relations&nbsp;Both sides underscored the importance of Pakistan-US strategic relations and expressed satisfaction over the momentum and positive trajectory of the partnership, under the leadership of President Trump. Both sides agreed to enhance bilateral trade and economic activities and mutual cooperation in countering terrorism. The prime minister emphasized the importance of continued high-level engagement between Pakistan and the US to advance common goals in a rapidly evolving global environment, the press release said. Pakistan&rsquo;s ongoing supportEarlier, Secretary Rubio posted on X, stating: &ldquo;Met today with Pakistani Prime Minister @CMShehbaz. Appreciate Pakistan&rsquo;s ongoing support of @POTUS&rsquo;s Peace Plan for Gaza and for joining the Board of Peace.&rdquo;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 719px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2024614315018310132&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=0889d6deeb65e66808aa7a3fe8acf59016a1fb50&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>&ldquo;In our meeting, we discussed the importance of our strategic relationship on critical minerals development and counterterrorism,&rdquo; he added. Pakistan&rsquo;s Foreign Minister Dar, while responding to Rubio&rsquo;s post on X, stated: &ldquo;Thank you @SecRubio. Pakistan values its longstanding relationship with the United States and appreciates the meaningful discussions we had today on advancing peace, cooperation in fighting against terrorism, and expanding bilateral economic and trade ties.&rdquo;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-2" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 849px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-2&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2024714377048277037&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=0889d6deeb65e66808aa7a3fe8acf59016a1fb50&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px"></iframe></div></div>&ldquo;We look forward to further strengthening our strategic partnership in all areas of shared interest,&rdquo; he added.&nbsp;

Pakistan Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sidelines of the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace in Washington on February 20, 2026. (Photo released by Prime Minister's O

Both sides underscore the importance of Pakistan-US strategic relations and expressed satisfaction over the momentum and positive trajectory of the partnership, under the leadership of President Trump. 

Pakistan ready to help implement Gaza Peace Plan, PM Sharif tells Rubio

ISLAMABAD: Indian External Affairs Minister Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar met United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington on Tuesday, with both sides highlighting efforts to deepen India-US strategic cooperation.&nbsp;According to the US State Department, Rubio and Jaishankar discussed formalizing bilateral cooperation on critical minerals, including exploration, mining, and processing.&nbsp;The State Department readout said the two leaders welcomed the trade deal reached between US President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stressing that closer economic ties could unlock new opportunities and strengthen shared energy security goals.&nbsp;Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to expanding bilateral and multilateral cooperation through the Quad, emphasizing that a stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific region remains vital to advancing shared interests.&nbsp;In a post on social media platform X, Jaishankar said the meeting involved a wide-ranging exchange covering bilateral cooperation as well as regional and global issues.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 815px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2018811808220582060&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2F&sessionId=2c33c371487d07e8c8e629e0532d2a728993df1e&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px"></iframe></div></div>He said discussions on the India-US strategic partnership included trade, energy, nuclear cooperation, defense, critical minerals, and technology.&nbsp;&nbsp;He also said both sides agreed on holding early meetings of various bilateral mechanisms to advance shared objectives.&nbsp;The talks were held against the backdrop of a recently finalized bilateral trade deal between India and the United States, which has drawn attention across the region. US President Donald Trump on Monday said he had agreed&nbsp;to a trade deal with India that would slash US tariffs on Indian goods to 18% from 50% in exchange for India lowering trade barriers, stopping its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/russia-says-india-has-not-said-it-will-halt-oil-purchases" target="_blank">purchases of Russian oil</a>, and buying oil instead from the US and potentially from&nbsp;Venezuela.&nbsp;Following that, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a post on his X account, thanked the US president for the &ldquo;wonderful announcement&rdquo;, saying that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/modi-wants-to-please-me-trump" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">&ldquo;President Trump&rsquo;s leadership</a>&nbsp;is vital for global peace, stability, and prosperity. India fully supports his efforts for peace.&rdquo; <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 369px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2018377090840830101&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2F&sessionId=2c33c371487d07e8c8e629e0532d2a728993df1e&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px"></iframe></div></div>&nbsp;He added: &ldquo;I look forward to working closely with him to take our partnership to unprecedented heights.&rdquo; Russia, on the other hand, said it has not received any indication from India that it would stop buying Russian oil following the announcement of a trade deal with US President Donald Trump.

Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar meets US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington on February 3, 2026. (Photo: X/@DrSJaishankar)

India

US State Department says both leaders discussed formalizing bilateral cooperation on critical minerals, including exploration, mining, and processing.

Jaishankar, Rubio discuss critical minerals, strategic partnership in Washington

ISLAMABAD:&nbsp;Pakistan is positioning itself as a key player in the global energy transition and is set to take center stage at the inaugural Critical Minerals Ministerial hosted by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/us-seeks-to-broaden-strategic-partnership-with-pakistan-rubio-says" target="_blank">US Secretary of State Marco Rubio</a>&nbsp;on Feb. 4.&nbsp;According to a State Department statement, the United States will welcome delegations from over 50 nations to advance collective efforts to strengthen and diversify critical minerals supply chains.&nbsp;This historic gathering will create momentum for collaboration to secure these critical components vital to technological innovation, economic strength, and national security, the statement said.&nbsp;Federal Minister for Energy Ali Pervaiz Malik is leading the Pakistani delegation to the Department of State, following an intensive diplomatic effort to pitch Pakistan&rsquo;s vast,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-positions-mining-forum-as-economic-priority" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">underexploited mineral wealth</a>&nbsp;as a strategic alternative for global supply chains.&nbsp;The US has placed a renewed emphasis on Pakistan&rsquo;s mineral potential, particularly its reserves of copper, gold, and lithium, as part of a broader strategy to diversify supply lines away from adversarial dominance. This burgeoning partnership was solidified late last year by a $500 million MoU with a US-backed metals firm to develop refining capabilities in Pakistan.&nbsp;Pakistan is home to immense, largely untapped geological wealth, with mineral reserves estimated to be worth trillions of dollars. The country&#39;s diverse landscape contains over 90 identified minerals, including the world&rsquo;s second-largest salt mines, fifth-largest copper and gold deposits -- most notably the Reko Diq project -- and massive lignite coal reserves in Thar.&nbsp;Pakistan is emerging as a potential supplier of critical &quot;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-seeks-global-partnership-for-mineral-extracts-energy-transition" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">future minerals</a>&quot; such as lithium, antimony, and rare earth elements, which are essential for the global transition to green energy and high-tech manufacturing.&nbsp;To make these resources available to the global market, the government has launched the Special Investment Facilitation Council, a &quot;one-stop shop&quot; designed to fast-track approvals and provide a secure environment for foreign investors.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (R) greets Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif (L) as US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters in the Oval Office of the White House on September 25, 2025 (Photo: AFP/File)

The country's diverse landscape contains over 90 identified minerals, including the world’s second-largest salt mines, fifth-largest copper and gold deposits, and massive lignite coal reserves in Thar.

Pakistan to join US-led global initiative on critical minerals

WASHINGTON:&nbsp;Secretary of State Marco Rubio voiced hope Wednesday for cooperation with Venezuela after the US toppling of Nicolas Maduro and expected a reopening soon of the US embassy there, but brandished force if the interim leader is defiant. In prepared testimony for a Senate hearing, Rubio had written that Delcy Rodriguez, who was vice president and now acting president, &quot;is well aware of the fate of Maduro.&quot; &quot;Make no mistake, as the president has stated, we are prepared to use force to ensure maximum cooperation if other methods fail,&quot; read the prepared testimony, referring to President Donald Trump. Asked about his prepared testimony during his appearance, Rubio took a more measured tone. &quot;I can tell you right now with full certainty we are not postured to, nor do we intend or expect to, have to take any military action in Venezuela,&quot; Rubio told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. &quot;The only military presence you&#39;ll see in Venezuela is our Marine guards at an embassy,&quot; he said. Trump has demanded that Venezuela, which has the world&#39;s largest proven oil reserves, cooperate with US oil companies. The State Department last week named a senior diplomat, Laura Dogu, as the top diplomat for Venezuela, and earlier sent a mission to assess the embassy in Caracas. &quot;We think very quickly we&#39;ll be able to open a US diplomatic presence on the ground,&quot; Rubio told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The restored US mission &quot;will allow us to have real-time information&quot; and improve interaction with Venezuelan authorities as well as &quot;members of civil society, the opposition,&quot; Rubio said. The United States shuttered its embassy in 2019 shortly after Washington and other major powers declared Maduro to be illegitimate following an election marred by reports of irregularities. &#39;One dictator for another&#39;&nbsp;US commandoes raided Caracas on January 3 and seized Maduro, a longtime leftist nemesis of Washington, and his wife, Cilia Flores. The couple were flown to New York to stand trial on US-issued charges of drug trafficking, which they deny. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said that the operation has cost at least hundreds of millions of dollars, &quot;and yet the Maduro regime is essentially still in power.&quot; &quot;Her cooperation appears tactical and temporary, and not a real shift in Venezuela&#39;s alignment. In the process, we&#39;ve traded one dictator for another,&quot; Shaheen said. Senator Chris Van Hollen, another Democrat, pointed to Trump&#39;s meetings with oil executives and questioned if he ordered the attack for personal benefit. &quot;By any measure, this is the most corrupt administration in American history,&quot; he said. Venezuelan officials say more than 100 people died, both Venezuelans and Cubans who unsuccessfully tried to protect Maduro. Rubio called the tactical operation a success as no Americans died. Trump indicated hours after deposing Maduro that he favored working by pressuring Rodriguez rather than seeking to empower Venezuela&#39;s democratic opposition, dismissing its leader, Maria Corina Machado, as a &quot;very nice woman&quot; who did not command &quot;respect.&quot; But Trump sounded more favorable to Machado after she visited him at the White House and presented him with her Nobel Peace Prize, which she won last year despite Trump loudly coveting the prestigious honor. Rubio will hold a closed-door meeting on Wednesday with Machado, the State Department said. Rubio &mdash; a Cuban-American and fervent critic of Latin American leftists &mdash; had, as a senator, championed Machado&#39;s opposition forces. Rodriguez insisted Sunday that she has had enough of orders from Washington. But she has also worked to encourage US oil investment and said Tuesday that the United States was unblocking sanctioned Venezuela funds.&nbsp;

Americas

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US expects to reopen a diplomatic presence in Venezuela soon after Maduro’s ouster, appointing Laura Dogu to lead efforts and restore engagement with authorities, civil society and opposition.

Rubio expects US diplomatic presence to return in Venezuela soon

ISLAMABAD: The Trump Administration announced on Wednesday that the United States will withdraw from 66 international organizations deemed &ldquo;wasteful, ineffective, or harmful,&rdquo; citing concerns over mismanagement, redundancy, and threats to national sovereignty. The move follows the review process outlined in an executive order, with additional evaluations of other organizations still ongoing, said a press release issued by the US State Department on Wednesday.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2009059107819671646&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=6049400c4ece6876c01e87f3ab8cf27c57b7517e&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 761px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2009059107819671646">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking on behalf of the administration, said the decision reflects a broader effort to ensure that US participation in international institutions serves the country&rsquo;s interests. &ldquo;It is no longer acceptable to be sending these institutions the blood, sweat, and treasure of the American people, with little to nothing to show for it,&rdquo; Rubio said. &lsquo;Progressive ideology&rsquo;The administration criticized many organizations for promoting agendas it views as contrary to US interests, including initiatives on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), gender equity, and climate policies. According to the statement, some institutions have become &ldquo;dominated by progressive ideology&rdquo; and are part of a &ldquo;globalist project&rdquo; that constrains American sovereignty. The withdrawal reflects a shift toward selective international engagement, with the US prioritizing cooperation where it aligns with national priorities and stepping back where it does not. The list of the 66 organizations from which the US will withdraw was included in the administration&rsquo;s announcement.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking on behalf of the administration, said the decision reflects a broader effort to ensure that US participation in international institutions serves the country’s interests.

Articles tagged with "Secretary of State Marco Rubio"