‘Their issue is different’: Rubio on whether India is uneasy about Pakistan’s role in US-Iran conflict

NEW DELHI: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday said India did not raise concerns over Pakistan’s reported role as a mediator in the ongoing US-Iran conflict, even though New Delhi remains concerned about terrorist groups operating from Pakistani territory.Responding to a question in Delhi on whether the Indian side expressed concerns regarding Pakistan playing the role of a mediator in the US-Iran conflict, Rubio said, “They’re always concerned about, obviously. India is always pointing to the fact that there are armed terrorist groups operating from Pakistani territory that target India. They’re always concerned about that.”“But as far as the role they played as a mediator and a facilitator in the Iran situation, it never came up. I don’t think that they would complain about that. I mean, their issue with Pakistan is different,” he added.Rubio’s remarks come amid ongoing diplomatic efforts surrounding the conflict between the United States and Iran, with multiple reports suggesting Pakistan has played a facilitative role in backchannel communications between the two sides.India has consistently raised concerns over cross-border terrorism and the presence of terror groups operating from Pakistan. However, Rubio indicated that New Delhi’s concerns remain focused on security and terrorism-related issues rather than Islamabad’s diplomatic engagement in the Iran crisis.