WASHINGTON: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday, with the two sides discussing cooperation in critical minerals, energy, counter-terrorism and prospects for increased American investment, according to a State Department statement.<\/p>\n
Earlier Thursday, the Pakistani leader also addressed the inaugural session of a Gaza peace forum led by President Donald Trump.<\/p>\n
The State Department said the US secretary thanked Pakistan for supporting Trump\u2019s Gaza peace plan and for joining the first meeting of the \u201cBoard of Peace\u201d as a founding member. He also offered condolences over the Jan 31 attacks in Balochistan and the Feb 6 bombing in Islamabad and reaffirmed the importance of continued partnership in counter-terrorism.<\/p>\n
The talks covered Pakistan\u2019s participation in the recent Critical Minerals Ministerial in Washington, with the United States welcoming Islamabad\u2019s engagement and discussing cooperation in developing Pakistan\u2019s energy and mineral resources, as well as commercial opportunities for American companies.<\/p>\n
Earlier, addressing the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace \u2014 formally established last month after being proposed in September 2025 \u2014 Prime Minister Shehbaz stressed the need for an end to ceasefire violations in Gaza, calling it \u201cvery important\u201d for achieving durable peace in the war-torn territory.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe people of Palestine have long endured the illegal occupation and immense suffering. And, to achieve long-lasting peace, it is very important that ceasefire violations must end to preserve life and advance reconstruction efforts,\u201d he said, adding that Palestinians must exercise full control over their land and future in line with UN Security Council resolutions.<\/p>\n
Praising Trump\u2019s role, the prime minister said that through his \u201cuntiring support and great efforts, long-lasting peace in Gaza will be achieved\u201d and that it would remain his legacy.<\/p>\n
Under its charter, the US government serves as the board\u2019s depository and the Donald J Trump Institute of Peace has been designated as its headquarters.<\/p>\n
A UN Security Council resolution adopted in mid-November last year authorised the board, along with cooperating states, to help establish an International Stabilisation Force in Gaza following the October ceasefire under a Trump-backed plan accepted by Israel and Hamas. The truce, however, has remained fragile with repeated violations.<\/p>\n
In his remarks, Prime Minister Shehbaz also credited Trump with defusing the four-day Pakistan-India crisis in May 2025, saying his intervention had \u201cpotentially averted the loss of tens of millions of people\u201d and describing him as \u201ca man of peace\u201d and \u201ca saviour of South Asia\u201d.<\/p>\n
Speaking before the Pakistani leader, Trump recalled his contacts with both Islamabad and New Delhi during the conflict, saying he had warned the two countries that the United States would halt trade negotiations and could impose 200 per cent tariffs if the fighting continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cI called them and said I am not doing trade deals with you two guys if you don\u2019t settle this up,\u201d he said, adding that the threat of economic consequences helped bring about a de-escalation.<\/p>\n
Trump also referred to his meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir, and praised the Pakistani leader for publicly acknowledging his role in stopping the conflict.<\/p>\n
The prime minister, in turn, lauded what he called Trump\u2019s \u201cbold diplomacy\u201d and \u201cdynamic leadership\u201d in resolving international crises and bringing calm to global hotspots.<\/p>\n
The Washington engagements underscored Pakistan\u2019s effort to expand economic cooperation with the United States \u2014 particularly in the energy and minerals sectors \u2014 while aligning with a US-led diplomatic initiative on Gaza and highlighting Trump\u2019s mediation role in South Asia.<\/p>\n
PM Shehbaz meets global leaders
\nThe prime minister also held informal meetings in Washington with global leaders who had arrived to attend the inaugural session of the Board of Peace, said a statement from the Prime Minister\u2019s Office (PMO).<\/p>\n
The premier met with the King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and President of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto.<\/p>\n
The statement added that \u201cimportant regional and global issues\u201d were discussed during the meeting.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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