The discussion focused on global and regional issues; Discussion with Rubio covered minerals and investments by US companies
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif attends the inaugural meeting of the Peace Board in Washington DC, February 19, 2026. PHOTO: PM OFFICE ON
WASHINGTON:
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met several world leaders, including US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, during his visit to Washington, DC, for the inaugural session of the ‘Peace Board’. Discussions focused on global and regional issues, and Secretary Rubio discussed critical minerals, energy sector development, and investment opportunities for U.S. companies in Pakistan with Prime Minister Shehbaz.
Read: Prime Minister to attend Gaza Peace Board meeting
In a press release from the Prime Minister’s Office, Prime Minister (PM) Sharif held talks with 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 Joko Widodo of Indonesia.
Additionally, according to the US State Department Office press release, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Prime Minister Sharif, praising Pakistan’s continued support for President Trump’s Gaza Peace Plan and thanking the country for its role as a founding member of the “Peace Board.”
He expressed his condolences over the recent attacks in Balochistan and Islamabad, reaffirming the importance of continuing cooperation in the fight against terrorism. They discussed critical minerals, energy sector development and investment opportunities for American companies in Pakistan.
Prime Minister Sharif arrived in Washington, DC on Thursday to attend the inaugural summit of the US-led “Peace Board”, an initiative focused on Gaza and the resolution of the global conflict. His delegation included senior officials such as Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and other cabinet ministers, and his visit was at the invitation of US President Donald Trump.
Read more: Trump says the United States will donate $10 billion to the new “Peace Board”
At the summit, President Trump publicly praised Prime Minister Shehbaz and Chief of Defense Forces (CDF) Asim Munir, recounting their role in achieving a ceasefire in the May conflict with India and expressing personal admiration for both Prime Minister Shehbaz and CDF Munir.
Prime Minister Shehbaz, in his speech at the “Peace Board” meeting, welcomed efforts towards lasting peace in Gaza and stressed the importance of ending ceasefire violations to enable reconstruction and stability in the war-torn Strip. He reiterated Pakistan’s support for Palestinian self-determination and a sovereign and contiguous Palestinian state.
Before and during the visit, officials stressed that Islamabad will carefully consider any participation in an international stabilization force in Gaza, seeking clear assurances that such a mission would be strictly peacekeeping in nature and would not involve disarmament actions against Hamas, according to Reuters.
