Hegseth Hails Growing Ties with Pakistan Over Iran Peace Efforts
Speaking during a question-and-answer session after his address at the Shangri-La Dialogue 2026 in Singapore, remarks later published by the International Institute for Strategic Studies on YouTube, Hegseth highlighted Pakistan’s involvement in regional mediation efforts.
He praised Pakistan’s senior leadership, including Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, saying they had played a constructive role in discussions linked to efforts to bring an end to the war in Iran.
“An unexpected development and a true friendship” has been developing between the United States and Pakistan, Hegseth said, adding that this evolving partnership also reflected earlier cooperation during the military confrontation between India and Pakistan in 2025, when President Donald Trump was said to have helped facilitate a ceasefire agreement.
The comments point to a notable warming in US-Pakistan relations over the past year, particularly in Washington’s engagement with Pakistan’s military establishment. At the same time, ties between the United States and India have seen occasional strain, with New Delhi rejecting claims that Trump played a decisive role in ending the 2025 conflict between the two countries.
Despite his positive remarks about Pakistan, Hegseth also stressed India’s continuing strategic importance. In his address, he described India as a “critical anchor” in the Indo-Pacific region and noted that it is expanding and modernizing its armed forces to “carry its share of the security burden, particularly in the Indian Ocean.”
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