WASHINGTON:
President Donald Trump welcomed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday for interviews at the White House in the latest warning sign of relations between Washington and nuclear energy in South Asia.
Sharif was one of the senior officials of eight Arab and Muslim countries who met Trump on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly this week to discuss the strategy on the end of the War of Israel-Hamas in Gaza.
The two leaders discussed bilateral relations.
The Prime Minister received a red carpet reception when he arrived in Washington DC with the Pakistani delegation to meet the American president.
Upon arrival at the Andrews air base, the Prime Minister was welcomed on the red carpet by a senior US Air Force.
The Prime Minister’s procession left the air base in the American security ring. Marshal Syed Asim Munnir also accompanied the Prime Minister.
On the American side, participants in the meeting should include Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Vice-President JD Vance and senior defense officials, as well as Trump.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Marshal Syed Asim Munnir met US President Donald J. Trump today at the Oval Office.
The Prime Minister praised the “daring, courageous and decisive leaders of President Trump for facilitating the Pakistani ceasefire and … pic.twitter.com/xy5hhsl2nk
– Government of Pakistan (@govtofpakistan) September 26, 2025
This marks the third meeting between the Prime Minister and the President in just three days – a record, because no Pakistani Prime Minister previously held numerous meetings with an American president in such a short time.
Before the meeting, the American president, while addressing the media, called the PM Shehbaz and the Marshal Asim Munnir “Great”.
The American-Pakistani links have warned in recent months under Trump after Washington considered for years the rivals of Pakistan, India as a counter-influence of China in Asia.
Washington’s relations with New Delhi were tested under the Republican leader on issues such as Visa’s obstacles for Indians, high rate rates imposed by Trump on India goods and Trump’s repeated statements that he negotiated a cease-fire in India-Pakistan in May after the South Asian neighbors engaged in their latest hostilities.
The United States and Pakistan announced a trade agreement on July 31 with a 19% rate rate imposed by Washington. Trump has not yet concluded a trade agreement with India.
Trump welcomed the military chief, Marshal Asim Munir, earlier this year, the first time that an American president welcomed the Pakistani army chief in the White House, not accompanied by senior Pakistani civilian officials.
Photo: Government account of Pakistan X
“We are working on a certain number of problems with regard to counter-terrorism, with regard to economic and commercial ties,” said a state department in a briefing on Tuesday when he was questioned about Pakistan.
“And therefore the president remains focused on the progress of American interests in the region, which includes engaging with Pakistan and their government leaders,” said the official.
Asked about friction with India, the manager said Trump believed that he was frank about the frustrations in the ties, but the relationship was strong.
Pakistan supported Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts in the absorbing of tensions between India and Pakistan, although Islamabad condemned the bombing of Israel to Gaza, Qatar and Iran.
(With an additional News Desk input)
