Pakistan, US vow deeper strategic engagement as Paul Kapur meets Dar

• US Assistant Secretary of State Paul Kapur, FM Dar discuss bilateral ties, regional developments

• Dar reiterates Pakistan’s commitment to resolving issues through dialogue and diplomacy

• Appreciates Trump’s peace vision and Iran-US ceasefire understanding, underscoring regular high-level interactions

• Washington acknowledges Pakistan’s role in regional mediation efforts

 ISLAMABAD: US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Paul Kapur on Thursday held a key meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, during which the two sides exchanged views on bilateral relations and regional developments and underscored the importance of regular high-level exchanges and sustained structured dialogue, according to the Foreign Office.

In a statement, the Foreign Office (FO) said Paul Kapur called on Ishaq Dar in Islamabad and discussed the evolving trajectory of Pakistan-US relations, regional peace efforts and avenues for expanding cooperation across multiple sectors.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Mr. Paul Kapur, called on Deputy Prime Minister / Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 today. During the meeting, both sides exchanged views on bilateral relations and regional… pic.twitter.com/hbX7UWZHIX

— Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) May 14, 2026

During the meeting, Dar welcomed the growing engagement between Pakistan and the United States and expressed satisfaction over the current positive momentum in bilateral ties.

The deputy prime minister appreciated US President Donald Trump’s vision for peace, the Iran-US ceasefire understanding and the recent visit of US Vice President JD Vance to Pakistan. He reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to resolving issues through dialogue and diplomacy and stressed the need for regular high-level interactions and a sustained structured dialogue mechanism between the two countries.

According to the Foreign Office, Paul Kapur appreciated Pakistan’s role in regional mediation and acknowledged the positive trajectory of bilateral relations.

Both sides also agreed to further strengthen collaboration in trade, investment and development cooperation.

Meanwhile, a day earlier, a ceremony was held at the Islamabad Museum where the United States formally handed over 450 ancient cultural artifacts to Pakistan, marking a significant step towards preserving the country’s historical heritage.

Addressing the ceremony, Paul Kapur said Pakistan’s rare and historical heritage had finally returned to its rightful home, adding that the total value of the recovered artifacts exceeded $23 million.

He said the successful recovery and return of the antiquities was made possible through the coordinated efforts of the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and US Homeland Security authorities.

Kapur noted that the artifacts represented important chapters of Pakistan’s civilizational history and served as a vital link connecting generations with their cultural heritage.

The collection includes 4,000-year-old clay figurines and some of the world’s earliest known human creations.

“Everything belongs to the people of Pakistan, and now it has reached its home,” he said.

Highlighting the global challenge of antiquities smuggling, the US assistant secretary of state said the illegal trade in cultural artifacts was a multi-billion-dollar criminal enterprise that deprived nations of their history and identity.

He reaffirmed that the United States would continue working closely with Pakistan to combat the illegal trafficking of cultural heritage.

Kapur added that the Pakistan-US agreement on cultural property would help prevent illicit antiquities from entering the US market while also opening new avenues for museum exchanges, conservation initiatives and professional training cooperation.