As US-Pakistan ties improve, PM Shahbaz Sharif meets Trump in Washington

Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif is engaged in hectic lobbying on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly making extra efforts to cultivate the Trump administration, including a meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House, as Islamabad tries to position itself as Washington's partner in parts of South-Central Asia.

It was the first meeting between the US President and the Pakistani PM at the White House since July 2019, when the then PM Imran Khan travelled to Washington and met President Trump's successor, Joe Biden, who completely ignored Pakistan during his tenure and never even talked to any of the prime ministers on phone, let alone inviting them to the White House. The meeting focused on bilateral ties, regional and international issues, including Afghanistan, counterterrorism cooperation, and trade opportunities.

Earlier, Sharif met Trump on Wednesday, on the sidelines of the high-level 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York. The meeting happened during a gathering of Arab Islamic leaders hosted by Trump and the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, according to a statement released by Sharif's office. The Pakistani PM "engaged in an informal conversation" with Trump.


US-Pakistan ties saw warmth when Islamabad gave Trump credit for his so-called peace intervention during the military conflict with India in May. The US President has said that he has helped in brokering a truce between the two countries using trade and tariff threats, a claim India vehemently denies. Later, Trump welcomed Pakistan's army chief Munir at the White House in June and discussed trade, economic development, and cryptocurrency. Days later, in July, the Trump administration announced a trade deal with Pakistan and said Washington would help Islamabad develop its "massive oil reserves". Operation Sindoor figured prominently at that meeting. Earlier, Sharif took initiative to organise a meeting between Trump and select Arab leaders, attempting to position Pakistan as a bridge to the Islamic world.