Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s meeting with US President Donald Trump has been scheduled for tomorrow at the White House, with peace in Gaza at the heart of the discussions.
The prime minister will travel to Washington from New York today, accompanied by top Pakistani officials.
High-stakes meeting at White House
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and US President Donald Trump will hold formal talks tomorrow in Washington. The meeting comes after Sharif joined the most important gathering of Arab and Islamic leaders in New York, aimed at stopping what they described as the genocide of oppressed Palestinian citizens in Gaza.
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Trump called the talks “very important”, saying he wanted an end to the war and stressing the release of hostages.
Key Muslim leaders call for ceasefire
Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani urged an immediate ceasefire, an end to the s-called war and the release of prisoners. He also expressed readiness to play the role of mediator and that the US leadership would play a key role in this difficult time.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan described the talks as “fruitful,” while Jordan’s King Abdullah and Indonesia’s President also met with Sharif earlier in New York to discuss Gaza’s worsening situation.
Shehbaz Sharif welcomes Trump’s role
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised Trump’s commitment to establishing peace, calling him “truly a champion of peace.” He highlighted Trump’s role in preventing a potentially devastating war between Pakistan and India.
Sharif, joined by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, stressed that a permanent solution between Palestinians and Israelis was only possible through negotiations.
Also Read: France, Belgium among 6 countries to recognise Palestine at UN
Prior to the meeting, Prime Minister Sharif met with the emir of Qatar, King Abdullah of Jordan and the Indonesian president and talked about the situation in Gaza.
US position on Gaza and Palestine
While urging a ceasefire, President Trump warned that recognizing Palestine as a state would amount to rewarding what he described as Hamas’ atrocities. He instead supported an agreement that tied a ceasefire to the release of hostages.
He called for an immediate ceasefire and cooperation for peace in Gaza, saying the war should have been stopped even at the beginning and now it must be ended. "Now, ending the war is the greatest need of the hour," Trump stated.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also weighed in, saying a Palestinian state must be created, but it “should not be used for attacks on Israel". He remarked that a permanent solution between Palestinians and Israelis was only possible through a negotiated settlement.
Broader Arab and Islamic participation
Leaders from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Egypt, Jordan, Turkiye, and Indonesia all joined the Arab-Islamic Summit in New York. The UAE’s foreign minister reaffirmed support for any effort that could help end the Gaza war, emphasizing ceasefire and hostage release.
At the end of the summit, Trump met Sharif separately in an informal and pleasant atmosphere. Both leaders exchanged views on continuing cooperation for peace.
Informal exchange followed the dialogue between President Trump and leaders of eight Islamic-Arab countries, including Pakistan. Prime Minister @CMShehbaz and Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator @MIshaqDar50 joined President @realDonaldTrump in the discussion. pic.twitter.com/Ku0Iaycha8
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) September 23, 2025
Trump: 'Meeting was very good'
Speaking to the media after the talks, President Trump said his meeting with Muslim leaders was “very good.” He confirmed that Israel would also take part in the next round of negotiations, expressing hope that a solution to the Gaza crisis could finally be found.
