Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met US President Donald Trump at the Oval Office in Washington, accompanied by Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir. The high-profile meeting, joined by US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, was described by both sides as “warm and cordial.”
Prime Minister Shehbaz praised President Trump’s “bold and decisive” leadership, crediting him for facilitating the Pakistan-India ceasefire earlier this year, which he said helped avert a regional catastrophe. He also commended Trump’s diplomatic efforts in the Middle East, particularly in pushing for a ceasefire in Gaza through consultations with Muslim leaders.
The two leaders discussed strengthening bilateral economic cooperation, counter-terrorism, and regional stability. The Prime Minister thanked Trump for the recently concluded tariff arrangement between Pakistan and the US, and invited American companies to invest in agriculture, IT, energy, and mining, including rare earth elements.
Trump, while speaking to reporters before the meeting, praised both Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Munir as “great leaders” guiding Pakistan. Photos released after the session showed a cordial atmosphere, with Trump giving his trademark thumbs-up during a group photo.
Shehbaz also extended an invitation to Trump to visit Pakistan, while reaffirming Islamabad’s commitment to expanding its longstanding partnership with Washington. The visit marks the first formal bilateral interaction between the two leaders and comes amid what US officials have described as “gradually warming ties” with Pakistan in Trump’s second term.
During his US trip, PM Shehbaz earlier met global leaders on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly and held an informal interaction with Trump during the Arab-Islamic summit in New York. Pakistan has already announced its decision to recommend Trump for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of his role in diffusing South Asian tensions.
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