US Secretary of State Marco Rubio commended Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for supporting US President Donald Trump's peace plan for Gaza and joining the Board of Peace, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Friday.
Rubio also held a meeting with the PM Shehbaz Sharif and reaffirmed their strategic relationship on critical minerals development and counterterrorism.
"Met today with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. 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 counterterrorism," he said.
During the inaugural Board of Peace meeting, Shehbaz Sharif showered praises on Trump for his "mediation" in the Pakistan-India conflict, calling him a "man of peace" and "saviour of the people of South Asia." "Your timely and very effective intervention to achieve a ceasefire between Pakistan and India potentially averted the loss of millions of people's lives. You have truly proved to be a man of peace and let me say you are truly saviour of the people of South Asia," Shehbaz Sharif said.
PM Shehbaz Sharif and Secretary Rubio agreed to enhance bilateral trade and economic activities as well as mutual cooperation in countering terrorism.
During the meeting, the two sides underscored the importance of Pakistan-US strategic relations and expressed satisfaction over the momentum and positive trajectory of the partnership, under the leadership of President Trump.
The prime minister was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, a press release issued by the PM House Media Wing said on Friday.
The prime minister congratulated President Donald Trump and Secretary Rubio on the successful inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace and reaffirmed that Pakistan was ready to work with the Board of Peace for the implementation of Gaza Peace Plan.
He emphasized the importance of continued high-level engagement between Pakistan and the US to advance common goals in a rapidly evolving global environment.
Meanwhile, in a press statement issued by the US State Department, Secretary Rubio thanked Pakistan for its ongoing support of President Trump’s Peace Plan for Gaza and for participating in the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace as a founding member.
He also offered his condolences for the horrific January 31 attacks in Balochistan and the devastating February 6 bombing in Islamabad, reaffirming the importance of our continued partnership in the fight against terrorism.
The secretary welcomed Pakistan’s participation in the recent Critical Minerals Ministerial in Washington.
The officials discussed critical minerals and energy sector development, as well as commercial investment opportunities for American companies.
PM, President Trump hold informal meeting
An informal meeting was held between US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the end of the Board of Peace meeting.
During the interaction, the two leaders expressed mutual goodwill and shook hands.
The US President also hugged Prime Minister Sharif, and the meeting was exceptionally warm.
Dar holds talks with UK secy
Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister (DPM/FM) Senator Ishaq Dar on Thursday met UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, Yvette Cooper and exchanged views on key regional and international developments, reaffirming their commitment to dialogue, multilateralism, and effective cooperation, including within the UN framework.
On sidelines of the high-level UN Security Council meeting on Palestine in New York, the DPM/FM met the UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Affairs, who chaired the briefing. DPM/FM appreciated her for convening the important meeting.
The two leaders reviewed Pak-UK relations and underscored the importance of sustained high-level engagement. They agreed to further strengthen bilateral cooperation across diverse sectors, including enhanced people-to-people exchanges.