According to Geo News, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended Washington's decades-long relationship with Pakistan in an interview with an Indian media outlet during his three-day visit to India, his second official trip there this year.
'Geography requires engagement'
Asked about his views on Pakistan as a senator and now as secretary of state, Rubio said running US foreign policy requires relationships even with countries Washington disagrees with. He said that from a geographic standpoint the US needs to interact with Pakistan, much as India's government maintains ties and meets leaders from Iran.
Rubio argued that keeping channels open with Pakistan could be positive, because it may put the US in a position to help discourage the things India is worried about. He reiterated that Washington opposes terrorism anywhere and anyone who sponsors it.
Hormuz and Iran
On the war on Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, Rubio said it was "very difficult" to make a deal with Tehran, but claimed oil and energy shipments through the strait had recovered to 80 to 100 percent of their levels before the Middle East conflict began in February.