Washington — Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif concluded a two-day visit to Washington on February 20, 2026, securing US commitments for cooperation in critical minerals and energy while reinforcing Pakistan’s role in regional stability and the Trump-led Gaza peace initiative.
The highlight was a meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday, where both sides discussed shifting the bilateral relationship toward greater economic investment alongside continued counterterrorism partnership.
Another Week of Impact . This week in the U.S.-Pakistan relationship, Prime Minister Sharif traveled to Washington to take part in President Trump’s inaugural Board of Peace meeting. We launched a new U.S.-funded program to feed 200,000 school children in Sindh. And Chargé… pic.twitter.com/rvjZRnFVso
— U.S. Embassy Islamabad (@usembislamabad) February 21, 2026
Key Highlights
- PM Shehbaz meets US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on sidelines of Board of Peace.
- Rubio thanks Pakistan for Gaza plan support and founding role in Board of Peace.
- US offers cooperation on critical minerals and energy sector opportunities.
- PM credits Trump for averting Pakistan-India crisis in May 2025.
- Informal meetings held with leaders of Bahrain, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Indonesia.
- PM meets IDFC CEO Benjamin Black; US agency eyes expanded footprint in Pakistan.
Rubio thanked Pakistan for backing President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan and for joining the Board of Peace as a founding member. He also offered condolences over the January 31 attacks in Balochistan and the February 6 bombing in Islamabad, reiterating the value of the counterterrorism partnership.
The discussions touched on Pakistan’s recent participation in the Critical Minerals Ministerial in Washington. The US welcomed Islamabad’s engagement and explored commercial opportunities for American companies in Pakistan’s energy and mineral resources.
In his address to the inaugural session of the Board of Peace, PM Shehbaz called for an end to ceasefire violations in Gaza, saying it was “very important” to preserve life and advance reconstruction. He praised Trump’s role, stating that through his “untiring support and great efforts, long-lasting peace in Gaza will be achieved” and that it would remain his legacy.
The prime minister also credited Trump with defusing the May 2025 Pakistan-India conflict, describing him as “a man of peace” and “a saviour of South Asia” whose intervention had “potentially averted the loss of tens of millions of people.”Trump, in turn, recalled his warnings during the crisis: “I called them and said I am not doing trade deals with you two guys if you don’t settle this up,” adding that the threat of economic consequences helped bring about de-escalation.
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Broader Diplomatic Outreach
The prime minister held informal meetings with several leaders attending the Board of Peace session, including 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. Important regional and global issues were discussed, according to the Prime Minister’s Office.
Separately, PM Shehbaz met Benjamin Black, CEO of the US International Development Finance Corporation (IDFC). He praised the agency’s existing portfolio of over $1 billion in Pakistan and urged closer business-to-business engagement. Black outlined the IDFC’s project pipeline and expressed interest in expanding the agency’s footprint in the country.
Officials described the visit as more about setting direction than producing major headline deals, with a focus on deepening economic ties — especially in energy and minerals — while aligning with US-led initiatives on Gaza and regional stability. The engagements signal Pakistan’s active push to strengthen partnerships amid evolving global challenges. Further follow-ups are expected in the coming months.
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