Rubio Discusses Iraq Energy Attacks, PMF Bill, KRG Oil; Meets Pakistan’s Ishaq Dar on G20, Default, Terrorism, India, Afghanistan

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio engaged in discussions with the Iraqi Prime Minister concerning recent attacks on Iraq's energy infrastructure. Rubio emphasized the need for the Iraqi government to hold accountable those responsible for these attacks and expressed concerns about the draft bill related to the Popular Mobilization Committee pending in Iraq's House of Representatives. Additionally, Rubio pressed the Iraqi Prime Minister on issues including Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) oil and the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) legislation. In a separate diplomatic engagement, Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington. During the meeting, Rubio acknowledged Pakistan's sacrifices in the fight against terrorism. Ishaq Dar highlighted Pakistan's commitment to regional peace, stating the country aims to join the G20 and has averted a default crisis. He also noted Pakistan's readiness for negotiations with India, while accusing India of wasting time. Furthermore, Ishaq Dar urged Afghanistan not to allow its territory to be used against Pakistan.