Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will visit Washington on Friday where he will meet with US Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Marco Rubio, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

The visit comes as Islamabad is attempting to negotiate a peace pact to end the US-Israeli war with Iran. The meeting with Rubio was originally scheduled for today but was later moved to Friday.

Dar will meet Rubio “to review bilateral relations and exchange views on regional and global developments of mutual interest”, the foreign ministry said in a statement.

“The discussions will also focus on strengthening cooperation in key priority sectors, as well as Pakistan’s efforts to promote regional peace and stability through dialogue and diplomacy,” the foreign office elaborated, adding that the visit “reflects Pakistan’s commitment to further deepening its longstanding and broad-based partnership with the United States.”

DPM Dar is expected to leave for Islamabad later in the day after wrapping up his engagements in Washington.

The visit comes amid an escalation in hostilities as the US and Iran traded blows today on the back of a cabinet meeting chaired by President Donald Trump on Wednesday.

Rubio had told attendees and the media that the administration was looking for progress over the next few hours or days. “Mr President, you have other options as well, if that doesn’t work,” he told Trump.

Trump in the meeting had claimed that Tehran was in a tight spot as they “just want to make a deal. I dont think they have a choice”. An Iranian official, however, claimed that Trump is “seeking a way out of this strategic deadlock” and “alternates between issuing threats and appealing for an agreement”.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in an Eid call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, said he hoped that a US-Iran peace deal that afforded dignity and honour to the Iranian nation could be reached soon. “This would help unlock the true economic potential of Iran and benefit the entire region,” the premier had said.

Dar, Chinese FM agree to work closely to promote multilateralism

Separately, Dar met with China’s FM Wang Yi in New York, according to a statement issued by the Foreign Office (FO).

“The two leaders felicitated each other on the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and expressed satisfaction that the milestone was commemorated in a befitting manner through the exchange of high-level visits, joint receptions, and commemorative activities,” the FO said.

They also expressed “satisfaction over the diplomatic coordination between the leadership of the two countries”.

Dar noted the recent convening of two rounds of party-to-party mechanisms — the Pakistan-China Political Parties Forum and exchanges between major political parties of Pakistan and the Communist Party of China.

He appreciated China’s continued support for Pakistan’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, national dignity, and independent development path, acknowledging “China’s support during Pakistan’s stabilisation efforts, including assistance at international financial institutions”.

Dar reaffirmed that Pakistan remains committed to the “One-China Principle” and will continue to support Beijing on issues concerning its core interests.

On his part, Wang underscored that China attaches great importance to the development of China-Pakistan relations, according to the FO.

Wang expressed China’s desire to further strengthen strategic communication, carry forward the traditional friendship, and deepen all-dimensional cooperation, the FO added.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to further deepen the Pakistan-China all-weather strategic cooperative partnership and to further strengthen the bond of friendship for future generations.

Pakistan backs ‘inclusive global governance’, urges reforms in UN system: Dar

Dar also participated in the “Group of Friends on Global Governance” meeting held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York under the theme “Reforming and improving global governance: working together to address global challenges”, the FO said in a statement.

The meeting, organised by China, was chaired by FM Wang and jointly attended by UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed, along with senior representatives of UN member states.

In his statement, Dar “commended China’s visionary leadership and its steadfast commitment to strengthening multilateralism and revitalising international cooperation at a time of global uncertainty”, the FO said.

He also stressed the “urgent need for renewed solidarity and a more effective system of global governance anchored in the purposes and principles of the UN Charter”.

Reaffirming Pakistan’s position, he said Pakistan “remains committed to multilateralism” and emphasised that Islamabad and Beijing “stand united in support of a just and inclusive global governance architecture rooted in international law, with the United Nations at its core”.

He further underlined that the UN Security Council must become “more democratic, representative and accountable”, ensuring that small and medium-sized states are “fully and adequately represented”.

At the same time, Dar cautioned that the “addition of new permanent members would violate the fundamental principle of sovereign equality and make the Council even less representative”, FO added.

Dar also reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to continue working closely with China and the international community to advance equitable development, strengthen multilateral cooperation, uphold international law, and promote lasting global peace and stability.