By Admin 
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that the growing closeness between Washington and Pakistan will not affect America’s strong partnership with India. Rubio clarified that America’s objective is not to limit relations with Pakistan only to anti-terrorism cooperation, but also to work towards increasing partnership at the economic and strategic levels.
‘The relationship with India is deep and historic’- US Secretary of State
Rubio said in the press briefing, ‘Our relationship with India is deep, historic and very important. Our talks with Pakistan are not happening at India’s expense. He said that America is adopting a practical foreign policy, in which it is simultaneously strengthening relations with many countries. India is a very mature country and it understands that we need to maintain relations with different countries.
‘Want to rebuild alliance with Pakistan’
The US Secretary of State said that America is trying to form a new strategic alliance with Pakistan. He said, ‘We are willing to work with Pakistan. We know there will be challenges, but we are looking for opportunities to see which issues we can work together on. Rubio also said that the US and Pakistan have a long partnership in counter-terrorism cooperation, and now Washington wants to take it forward.
‘India’s concern is natural, but we will maintain balance’
When asked whether India has expressed concern over America’s growing closeness to Pakistan, Rubio said, ‘India’s concern is natural because there has been tension between the two countries for a long time. But India understands that America has to maintain relations with many countries. He said that India itself maintains relations with countries from which America is distant, hence this is a part of mature diplomacy.
New warmth in America-Pakistan relations
In recent times, relations between America and Pakistan have strengthened rapidly. America has signed an agreement with Pakistan on important mineral partnership, under which an investment of 500 million dollars will be made. Apart from this, both the countries have also agreed on oil reserves and trade expansion.
Trump praised Pak PM and Army Chief
On Sunday, US President Donald Trump praised Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief General Asim Munir, calling them ‘excellent people’. Trump also recently claimed that he saved millions of lives by preventing a possible war between India and Pakistan. This statement has come at a time when a new turn is being seen in the relations between America and Pakistan.