The BRICS TimesShehbaz Sharif held his first Oval Office meeting with Donald Trump, joined by Army Chief Asim Munir, as US-Pakistan ties enter a new phase.
US President Donald Trump hosted Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the White House on Thursday, underlining the renewed momentum in relations between Washington and Islamabad. Ahead of the private meeting, Trump hailed Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir as “great leaders.”
Sharif arrived at the West Executive Avenue entrance just before 5 pm local time, where senior US officials greeted him warmly. Walking beside him was Pakistan’s powerful army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, who is playing a major role in the country’s foreign engagements.
This was Sharif’s debut session inside the Oval Office, and for Pakistan, it carried historic weight, as no leader from the country had visited the iconic room since Imran Khan’s meeting with Trump in July 2019.
The discussion between the two sides was expected to revolve around key themes, including strategic relations, security cooperation, trade opportunities, and broader global concerns.
For Sharif, the White House stop capped off a hectic week in the United States. Earlier, he joined eight Arab and Muslim leaders in a collective meeting with Trump on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, where discussions centered on ending the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza.
Sharif’s administration has focused strongly on building closer links with Trump, who already enjoys a strong rapport with Pakistan’s military establishment. This development stands in sharp contrast to Trump’s earlier criticism, when he labeled Pakistan a “safe haven” for terrorists and accused the nation of misleading the United States.
Back in June, Trump welcomed Munir for a luncheon at the White House. Soon after, Munir nominated the US leader for the Nobel Peace Prize, citing his mediation efforts in easing tensions between India and Pakistan.
TRUMP PRAISES SHARIF AND MUNIR
Before the bilateral meeting, Trump had drawn attention to Sharif’s visit, openly calling both leaders “great leaders.” While speaking to journalists inside the Oval Office, he remarked, “We have a great leader coming, the Prime Minister of Pakistan and the Field Marshal. Field Marshal is a very great guy, and so is the Prime Minister, both, and they’re coming, and they may be in this room right now.”
PAKISTAN-US PARTNERSHIP EXPANDS
Relations between Washington and Islamabad are clearly improving under Trump, even as his once-close ties with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi appear strained.
Tensions have risen in part due to India’s increasing imports of Russian oil following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. In response, Trump imposed steep tariffs of up to 50 percent on Indian goods last month, framing the move as a way to indirectly reduce Russia’s war revenues.
Meanwhile, Washington and Islamabad are moving toward deeper collaboration. In July, both nations finalized a trade agreement enabling US investment in Pakistan’s largely unexplored oil reserves, while simultaneously reducing tariffs on Pakistani exports, according to the Associated Press.
Shehbaz Sharif further strengthened his bond with Trump by endorsing him for the Nobel Peace Prize, crediting him for facilitating a ceasefire between India and Pakistan earlier this year. In contrast, Modi has refrained from acknowledging Trump’s role in that diplomatic success.
Even so, Trump signaled last week that Washington’s trade talks with New Delhi remain on track. “I look forward to speaking with my very good friend, Prime Minister Modi, in the upcoming weeks,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “I feel certain that there will be no difficulty in coming to a successful conclusion for both of our Great Countries!”
