The United States has expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s support of President Donald Trump’s Peace Plan for Gaza, as senior officials from both countries reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral ties.
In a post on X U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he met with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, thanking Pakistan for backing the U.S.-led peace initiative 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
“Met today with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Appreciate Pakistan’s ongoing support of President Trump’s Peace Plan for Gaza and for joining the Board of Peace,” Rubio said in a statement shared on social media.
He added that discussions during the meeting focused on strengthening the strategic relationship between the two countries, particularly in the areas of critical minerals development and counterterrorism cooperation.
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also welcomed the engagement, underscoring the importance of the longstanding relationship between Islamabad and Washington.
Thank you @SecRubio.
Pakistan values its longstanding relationship with the United States and appreciates the meaningful discussions we had today on advancing peace, cooperation in fighting against terrorism, and expanding bilateral economic and trade ties. We look forward to… https://t.co/xjp2FqmBJZ— Ishaq Dar (@MIshaqDar50) February 20, 2026
“Pakistan values its longstanding relationship with the United States and appreciates the meaningful discussions we had today on advancing peace, cooperation in fighting against terrorism, and expanding bilateral economic and trade ties,” Dar said.
He further noted that Pakistan looks forward to deepening its strategic partnership with the United States in areas of shared interest.
PM Shehbaz and other world leaders attended the inaugural meeting of the Trump-led BoP in Washington on Thursday.
Addressing the BoP meeting, PM Shehbaz described his participation as an honour and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to lasting peace in Gaza.
The prime minister said the pursuit of sustainable peace in Gaza remains a shared mission, adding that the day marked a “golden chapter in history” for peace efforts in the Middle East.
He expressed hope that the initiative would succeed in achieving long-term stability in the war-hit region.
PM Shehbaz in September last year welcomed Trump’s 20-point plan aimed at ensuring an end to the war in Gaza, stressing that durable peace between Palestinians and Israel was vital for political stability and economic growth in the region.
Read More: PM Shehbaz Sharif meets global leaders at inaugural Board of Peace summit
Meanwhile, Hamas issued a strong statement rejecting any political compromise until what it described as the “complete end of Israeli aggression.”
The group demanded that the siege of Gaza be lifted immediately and called for an end to alleged ceasefire violations. Hamas also addressed the U.S.-led “Board of Peace,” asserting that “resistance and weapons are our constitutional right” and stating that the question of disarmament “does not arise.”
Hamas appealed to the international community to intervene and said it is willing to hand over civilian administration to a technocratic committee. However, it emphasized that its military wing would remain intact.
The group further rejected what it called any bargaining over Palestinian rights in the name of reconstruction and accused Israel of using the “Board of Peace” as a shield for ongoing military operations.
