In their first telephonic conversation, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio decided to resolve the age-old problem of abandoned US weapons in Afghanistan because both countries are increasingly threatened by regional security risks.

The talks, also termed as friendly and fruitful, ranged from a broad agenda of issues such as bilateral relations, economic cooperation, and regional security, a statement issued by Pakistan's Foreign Office said on Monday.

With Pakistan recording a chilling 42% rise in terrorist incidents in January 2025 alone, primarily against law enforcement agencies and security forces, the matter of residual weapons in the hands of the Taliban has become a focal point of Islamabad's diplomatic efforts.

The desolate cache, worth more than $7 billion, a US Department of Defence report in 2022 estimates, was taken over by the Taliban quickly as soon as it was abandoned at the hasty US withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021. Although attempts were made to destroy some equipment, much of it ended up in the possession of militants, fuelling safety issues in the area.

Foreign Minister Dar underscored the need to address this issue, terming it a key driver of terrorism throughout the region. He reminded Pakistan of its resolve towards counter-terrorism, remembering the country's sacrifices from 2013 to 2018, both human and financial.

Secretary Rubio seconded similar sentiments, welcoming Pakistan's counter-terrorism efforts and showing an interest in deepening counter-terrorism cooperation, trade, and investment, particularly in areas such as critical minerals. He added that economic cooperation would be at the forefront of future US-Pakistan relations.

Significantly, the appeal follows an unexpected diplomatic tension, as US President Donald Trump recently imposed a 29% tariff on Pakistani imports, a sharp increase from the 10% baseline, which took effect on April 5 and will peak on April 9.

In spite of tariff tensions, each side reaffirmed a common aspiration to remain closely in touch with each other and cooperate in favour of mutual interests in the region. Dar reiterated the need for proceeding with positive dialogue, emphasizing economic development and peace in the region.