WASHINGTON: Pakistan’s sustained diplomatic outreach in Washington seems to be paying off, with the US State Department expressing optimism that President Donald Trump may help facilitate a resolution to the decades-old Kashmir dispute during his term. The statement comes after a recent visit by a high-level Pakistani parliamentary delegation led by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.
The delegation met with senior US officials, including Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker. Responding to written questions submitted by this correspondent, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce confirmed that the meetings covered vital bilateral issues, including the Kashmir dispute, counterterrorism, and regional peace.
“State Department officials, including Under Secretary Hooker, met with the Pakistani parliamentary delegation during a visit to Washington last week,” Bruce said. “She reiterated US support for the ongoing ceasefire — as you might imagine, thank God — between Pakistan and India. They also discussed important issues to the bilateral relationship, including counterterrorism cooperation.”
Bilawal’s visit, which spanned from May 31 to June 6, included meetings with over a dozen members of the US House and Senate, as well as State Department officials. The Pakistani delegation presented its concerns about Indian actions in Kashmir, the Indus Waters Treaty’s suspension, and provocative statements from Indian leadership.
Trump’s Bold Offer to Mediate the Kashmir Conflict
President Trump, known for his unconventional diplomatic style, has made a direct offer to mediate between Pakistan and India on Kashmir. In a post on his Truth Social platform, he wrote, “I will work with you, both to see if, after a ‘thousand years,’ a solution can be arrived at concerning Kashmir.”
Pakistan welcomed Trump’s mediation gesture, viewing it as an opportunity to internationalize the Kashmir issue. In contrast, India swiftly rejected the offer, reiterating its traditional stance that Kashmir remains a bilateral matter.
When asked whether President Trump would go beyond this offer — for example, by inviting both countries’ leaders to the US or backing a UN Security Council initiative — Bruce declined to comment on specifics. However, she did underline Trump’s track record in resolving intractable conflicts.
“It doesn’t — it shouldn’t surprise anyone that he’d want to manage something like that. He has been the only one to bring certain people to the table to have conversations that nobody thought were possible,” she stated.
India and Pakistan in Washington
Interestingly, an Indian delegation was also in Washington around the same time, holding meetings with US officials. Deputy Secretary of State Landau met with the Indian team and reaffirmed America’s strong strategic partnership with India, particularly in counterterrorism.
Despite this, the State Department appears to have maintained a careful balance, emphasizing the need for continued dialogue and regional peace. “We are glad the ceasefire is holding, and we support any constructive engagement between the two countries,” Bruce said.
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Analysts say this reflects a dual-track approach from Washington, which seeks to preserve its strategic interests with India while also responding to Pakistan’s concerns — especially in light of its role in Afghanistan and regional counterterrorism efforts.
September UNGA Session
With tensions still simmering and dialogue channels limited, observers now look toward the upcoming United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session in New York this September. Many believe it could offer a diplomatic window for a breakthrough — possibly even a historic meeting between the prime ministers of Pakistan and India under President Trump’s mediation.
Though neither side has officially confirmed any such meeting, the tone of the US remarks suggests that diplomatic groundwork may already be underway behind closed doors.
“It is an exciting time,” Bruce noted. “Every day brings something new, and I hope perhaps something like that can also get resolved before the President [leaves office].”
Despite no concrete follow-up yet on Trump’s offer, the mere willingness of a sitting US president to engage on Kashmir has generated cautious optimism in Islamabad. Pakistan’s foreign office is now expected to increase its diplomatic efforts ahead of the UNGA, possibly lobbying other global powers to support a peaceful resolution.
While the road to any lasting settlement on Kashmir remains long and uncertain, Washington’s latest statements and President Trump’s personal interest suggest that, at least diplomatically, the issue is back on the international agenda.
