US ‘appreciates’ Pakistan’s support for Gaza peace plan, joining peace board

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s support regarding President Donald Trump’s Peace Plan for Gaza and joining the peace board.

Following a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Rubio on Friday confirmed that Pakistan has joined the ‘Board of Peace’ to further diplomatic efforts in the region.

In a statement shared on the social media platform X, the secretary of state noted that the discussion also focused on the strategic partnership between the two nations, specifically highlighting cooperation in counter-terrorism and the development of critical minerals.

READ MORE: US welcomes Pakistan’s offer to deploy troops in Gaza

In response to Rubio’s remarks, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar thanked him, saying Pakistan valued its longstanding relationship with the United States.

“Pakistan appreciates the meaningful discussions we had today on advancing peace, cooperation in fighting against terrorism, and expanding bilateral economic and trade ties,” he said, adding that Islamabad looked forward to further strengthening the strategic partnership in all areas of shared interest.

The meeting between PM Shehbaz and Rubio took place on the sidelines of the Board of Peace Leaders’ meeting in Washington. The prime minister was accompanied by DPM Dar, the PM Office said in a statement.

The premier congratulated President 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.

“Both 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. Both sides agreed to enhance bilateral trade and economic activities and mutual cooperation in countering terrorism,” the PMO said.

PM Shehbaz emphasised the importance of continued high-level engagement between Pakistan and the US to advance common goals in a rapidly evolving global environment.

At the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace a day ago, President Trump said, “What we are doing is very simple — peace. It’s called the Board of Peace, and it’s all about — an easy word to say, but a hard word to produce — peace.

READ MORE: PM Shehbaz to visit Washington on Trump’s invitation to attend Board of Peace meeting

“We are going to produce it. We have been doing a really good job, and some of these leaders that are with us have helped me very much.”

On the Gaza issue, he said it was “very complex”, commending US envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner, among others, for an “amazing job” in this connection.

He then went on to say that the Board of Peace was “the most consequential board”.

“Certainly, in terms of power and in terms of prestige, there has never been anything close because these are the greatest world leaders,” he said, adding that almost everybody had accepted the invitation to join the board, and those had not would do.

“Some are playing a little cute. This doesn’t work. You can’t play cute with me,” he remarked.

“They are all joining, most of them immediately. A few of them we don’t want because they are trouble. Take care of them,” he added.

Trump then again asserted that the Board of Peace was the “most prestigious ever put together. You know, I have seen great corporate boards. I have seen some great boards, period. It’s peanuts compared to this board. Because we have virtually everyone who is the head of a country”.

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.

In a statement, PM Shehbaz had said it was convinced that President Trump was fully prepared to assist in whatever way necessary to translate this “extremely important and urgent understanding” into reality.