The United States has expressed appreciation to Pakistan for backing President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace initiative and for becoming a member of the newly formed Board of Peace.
The acknowledgment came during high-level discussions between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and senior US officials, where both sides also explored investment opportunities in Pakistan’s energy and minerals sectors, along with enhanced counterterrorism cooperation.
In a post on X, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio shared a photo with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. Rubio stated that he met Sharif to commend “Pakistan’s continued support for @POTUS’s Peace Plan for Gaza and for joining the Board of Peace.”
Met today with Pakistani Prime Minister @CMShehbaz. Appreciate Pakistan’s ongoing support of @POTUS’s Peace Plan for Gaza and for joining the Board of Peace. In our meeting, we discussed the importance of our strategic relationship on critical minerals development and… pic.twitter.com/vMSl6i4bvz
— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) February 19, 2026
The meetings were held in Washington on the sidelines of the inaugural session of the Gaza Board of Peace, a body aimed at coordinating international stabilization and reconstruction efforts in Gaza following months of conflict.
During their talks, Sharif, accompanied by Ishaq Dar, and Rubio discussed strengthening bilateral ties, particularly cooperation in critical minerals development and counterterrorism efforts. Rubio highlighted the importance of the strategic partnership between the two countries in these key areas.
Pakistan, for its part, has been working to reinvigorate economic engagement with Washington as it seeks to boost exports, draw foreign investment, and stabilize its economy under an International Monetary Fund-supported reform program.
