On Friday, July 26, 2025, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar stated that a trade agreement with the United States was likely to be finalized within days, though U.S. officials have not confirmed any such timeline. Speaking at the Atlantic Council in Washington, Dar said, “I believe we’re very close to concluding a deal with the U.S. Our teams have been in Washington, holding both in-person and virtual discussions, and the Prime Minister has appointed a committee to finalise the remaining details.” He added, “It won’t take months or even weeks — I’d say just days.”

Despite Dar’s optimism, official statements from both the U.S. State Department and Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry following his meeting with Secretary of State Marco Rubio did not mention any timeframe. Instead, both statements emphasized the importance of enhancing trade, particularly in sectors like critical minerals and mining. Rubio, in a post on X after the meeting, also refrained from mentioning any expected date for the trade agreement.

Dar also acknowledged what he called the crucial role of former U.S. President Donald Trump and Secretary Rubio in helping ease tensions between Pakistan and India, crediting them with facilitating a ceasefire. However, the U.S. statement issued afterward made no reference to India.

Trump has consistently claimed credit for brokering the India-Pakistan ceasefire, which he announced via social media on May 10, following diplomatic engagements with both countries. However, India has rejected Trump’s assertion, denying that the ceasefire was a result of U.S. intervention or pressure related to trade negotiations.