Rubio Says Pakistan Ties Give US Influence

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said Washington’s closer ties with Pakistan could give it more influence over the decisions taken in Islamabad. He insisted at the same time that the relationship does not come at India’s expense.

Rubio made the remarks in a joint interview with India Today, recorded on October 22 at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai alongside US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor. The US State Department has published the full transcript of the conversation.

Rubio Pakistan Influence Remark in Mumbai Interview

Rubio was asked how the United States would assure India that its closer ties with Pakistan would not hurt India’s fight against terrorism. His answer put the Pakistan relationship in plain terms.

“So, our relationship with Pakistan is not new. And I think it’s just developed in a way that allows us to have hopefully more influence over the decisions they make on a variety of topics,” Rubio said.

He explained that the United States needs relations with as many countries as possible because of its global presence and interests. He then drew a clear line on India.

“In no way does the relationship with Pakistan come at the expense of our relationship with India,” he added.

A short clip of the influence remark is now circulating widely on social media, and it is that clip, rather than the full interview, that has driven most of the attention so far.

US Role During India-Pakistan Tensions

Rubio also spoke about Washington’s role during last year’s India-Pakistan encounter. He said the United States used its long-standing ties with India, and its relationship with Pakistan, which he said has improved over the last few years, to stop the situation from turning into a wider conflict.

“We’d prefer not to see war,” Rubio said, adding that the United States would rather see both countries partner in business and commerce.

The setting of the interview matters. Rubio spoke on Indian soil, in Mumbai, with the US ambassador to India beside him, while answering a question about reassuring India. That context shapes how the remarks will be read in New Delhi, where closer US-Pakistan engagement has drawn close attention.

Engagement Between Washington and Islamabad Grows

The comments come as engagement between Islamabad and Washington has grown this year. The reporting around the interview points to talks on US investment in Pakistan’s AI sector as one strand of that wider engagement.

Earlier, Pakistan’s Foreign Office had also clarified reports about Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Rubio exchanging information on Iran’s nuclear programme. The clarification underlines how closely each US-Pakistan contact is now watched, and how quickly claims about the relationship spread.

Feature Pakistan reported on October 21 that Rubio had already defended the US-Pakistan relationship on geographic and nuclear grounds, saying Washington must maintain ties with a nuclear-armed country in such a location. The Mumbai interview goes further, because it links the relationship directly to influence over decisions, and it does so in an interview given in India.

What the Remarks Mean for the Region

The interview leaves three points clear. First, Washington now speaks openly about wanting influence in Islamabad, not just friendly contact. Second, it pairs that message with a public reassurance to New Delhi. Third, it frames both relationships as tools for avoiding conflict and building trade, rather than as rivals to each other.

Whether the remarks ease concern in New Delhi or sharpen it will depend on how Indian officials and commentators respond to the clip in the coming days. For now, the transcript stands as the full record, and the short clip is doing the travelling.

What did Rubio say about Pakistan?

Rubio said the US relationship with Pakistan is not new, but it has developed in a way that allows Washington to hopefully have more influence over the decisions Pakistan makes on a variety of topics.

Why was Rubio speaking in Mumbai?

The interview was recorded on October 22 at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai, with US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor alongside him. It was given to India Today, and the State Department later published the full transcript.

Did Rubio say US-Pakistan ties hurt India?

No. Rubio said the relationship with Pakistan does not come at the expense of the relationship with India, and he pointed to US ties with both countries as a reason last year’s India-Pakistan encounter did not turn into a wider conflict.