Exclusive: We share India's concerns, says Rubio on US-Pak ties and Delhi's fight against terrorism

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday said Washington’s closer ties with Pakistan would not come at the cost of its partnership with India, stressing that the two countries shared the same concerns over terrorism.

"In no way does the relationship with Pakistan come at the expense of our relationship with India," Rubio said in an exclusive interview with India Today, adding that Washington and New Delhi "share the same concerns... about terrorism."

Watch India Today’s exclusive interview with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor at 8 pm today, as they discuss key issues shaping India-US ties, from trade and tariffs to terrorism and visa issues.

Rubio, who is currently visiting India, made the remarks at Mumbai’s Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, one of the sites targeted in the 26/11 terror attacks in 2008. He was responding to a question on how the US would ensure that its closer ties with Pakistan did not undermine India’s fight against terrorism.

Explaining Washington’s approach, Rubio said the US needed to maintain relationships with countries across the world, including Pakistan. He argued that continued engagement with Islamabad could give Washington greater influence over its decisions on a range of issues.

“I think it allows us to have, hopefully, more influence over the decisions they make on a variety of topics,” he said.

Rubio also suggested that Washington’s ties with both India and Pakistan could help prevent tensions between the neighbours from escalating into a wider conflict.

While describing the US partnership with India as long-established, he said relations with Pakistan had improved in recent years, giving Washington an opportunity to engage with both sides.

Rubio acknowledged the strained ties between India and Pakistan, saying the US was willing to help ease tensions and prevent them from escalating into a wider conflict, as Washington did not want to see another war between the neighbours.

“The tensions between the two countries are well understood. The United States is prepared to play a constructive role because we'd prefer not to see war,” he said.

Rubio said the US would rather see the two countries focus on business and commerce, with greater cooperation creating opportunities for prosperity and security.

Reiterating Washington’s commitment to fighting terrorism, Rubio pointed to the US’s own experience with terrorist attacks and its operations against extremist groups across the world.

“No country in the world does more to go after terrorism than the United States,” he said, citing American operations against the Islamic State and Al-Qaeda, including the operation that killed Al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden.

He also referred to US operations against terrorist groups in parts of Africa, arguing that Washington had demonstrated its commitment to confronting terrorism and extremist ideologies that threaten countries, including India.