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February 22, 2026
Pakistan and the US reaffirm strategic ties in Washington, prioritising minerals, energy investment, counterterrorism, and Gaza diplomacy cooperation.
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Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington to reaffirm bilateral cooperation across diplomacy, security, and economic engagement. The talks signalled a strategic recalibration, with both sides emphasising minerals development, energy collaboration, and expanded investment flows.
Rubio thanked Pakistan for supporting President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace initiative and for participating as a founding member of the Board of Peace. Discussions highlighted Pakistan’s diplomatic role following the fragile Gaza ceasefire and underscored shared commitments to regional stability.
Security cooperation also featured prominently. Rubio conveyed condolences over recent attacks in Balochistan and Islamabad, reiterating continued counterterrorism coordination between Washington and Islamabad.
Economically, the meeting centred on critical minerals and energy infrastructure. Rubio welcomed Pakistan’s participation in the Critical Minerals Ministerial Meeting, with both sides exploring pathways for US investment in Pakistan’s resource sector and broader commercial expansion.
The engagement reflects a broader shift: positioning economic collaboration particularly in minerals and energy, as a central pillar of the Pakistan–US relationship, alongside longstanding security cooperation.
