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 said he met Shehbaz to thank Pakistan for its continued backing of the US president’s peace plan for Gaza and for becoming part of the Board of Peace. He added that their discussions also covered the strategic relationship between the two countries, particularly cooperation on critical minerals development and counterterrorism.
Responding on X, Dar thanked Rubio for what he described as constructive talks on areas of shared interest. He said Pakistan values its long-standing ties with the United States and welcomed meaningful dialogue on advancing peace, strengthening counterterrorism cooperation, and expanding bilateral economic and trade relations. He added that Islamabad looks forward to further deepening its strategic partnership with Washington.
Prime Minister Shehbaz, along with other global leaders, attended the inaugural meeting of the Trump-led Board of Peace in Washington on Thursday. Addressing the gathering, he called it an honour to participate and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to lasting peace in Gaza.
He described the pursuit of sustainable peace in Gaza as a shared mission and termed the occasion a golden chapter in efforts to bring stability to the Middle East. He expressed hope that the initiative would lead to long-term peace in the conflict-affected region.
During his remarks, Trump praised Shehbaz and also commended Pakistan’s Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of the Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir, describing him as a tough and serious fighter. Trump said he liked the Pakistani prime minister.
Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said Pakistan received an exceptional reception at the Board of Peace meeting. In a video message, he stated that Trump’s appreciation of Pakistan’s role in promoting global peace had enhanced the country’s international standing. He added that Pakistan’s foreign policy was positioning it as an influential and effective player on the global stage.
Trump first proposed the Board of Peace last September while outlining his plan to end Israel’s war in Gaza, later expanding its scope to address other global conflicts.
On the sidelines of the meeting, Shehbaz held cordial interactions with several world leaders, including Trump. In an informal exchange, the two leaders greeted each other warmly, shook hands, and shared a friendly embrace.
The prime minister also met King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain, President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan, and President Prabowo Subianto of Indonesia during the event in Washington.
Their discussions focused on key regional and international issues, reflecting a spirit of goodwill and close cooperation.
Pakistan’s inclusion in the Board of Peace is being viewed as a sign of its expanding diplomatic engagement, particularly its contributions toward peace efforts in Gaza, reconstruction initiatives, and broader global stability.
