Trade talks: Pakistan, US make significant progress: FO

ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office (FO) Spokesperson has said on Saturday that Pakistan and the United States have made significant progress in negotiations on a proposed reciprocal trade agreement. Negotiations on the Pakistan–United States Agreement on Reciprocal Trade were held in Washington, D. C. , on 9–10 July. Secretary of Commerce Jawad Paul, who led the Pakistan delegation, characterised the talks as positive and appreciated the significant progress made during the negotiations. The talks were conducted in a cordial atmosphere, with both sides working through their differences and moving toward an early conclusion of the Agreement. INP adds: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi arrived in Washington as Pakistan and the United States launched a fresh round of discussions aimed at strengthening bilateral trade and economic cooperation, while regional diplomatic efforts continued amid tensions involving the US and Iran. Also read: PM, Qatar emir, discuss US-Iran talks Naqvi’s visit comes after he represented Pakistan at the Fifth United Nations Chiefs of Police Summit (UNCOPS 2026) in New York, where he participated in discussions on global security, law enforcement cooperation and transnational crime. The visit is being closely watched as Islamabad continues its diplomatic engagement with regional and international partners amid ongoing efforts to reduce tensions between Washington and Tehran following months of heightened hostilities in the Middle East. According to US officials, diplomatic contacts with Iran remain active despite continued uncertainty, with Washington prioritising negotiations while maintaining military preparedness. Officials said reports of fresh US strikes on Iranian targets were inaccurate, although the regional security situation remains volatile. During his visit to New York, Naqvi also met Bangladesh’s Interior Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, with both sides agreeing to expand cooperation in combating cybercrime, online fraud and other cross-border security challenges. The two ministers also discussed police training programmes and broader bilateral cooperation. The meeting included discussions on the evolving situation in the Middle East, with the Bangladeshi minister commending Pakistan’s efforts to support regional peace. Naqvi said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir had played an important role in promoting regional stability. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026

Read full story on Business Recorder