Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, accompanied by Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir held a cordial meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House on Friday morning.
The discussion that lasted for 55 minutes focused on peace in South Asia, the Gaza crisis, regional security, and enhancing bilateral economic cooperation. On the US side, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance also attended the meeting, along with President Trump.
Warm and cordial exchange
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the meeting remained "warm and cordial". Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep admiration for President Trump, calling him a “man of peace” committed to resolving global conflicts. He praised Trump’s "bold, courageous and decisive leadership", particularly in facilitating a ceasefire between Pakistan and India, which helped avert a potential catastrophe in South Asia.
Focus on Middle East, Gaza Conflict
The leaders also discussed the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif lauded President Trump’s efforts to end the war in Gaza. He especially appreciated Trump’s initiative to bring key Muslim world leaders together in New York earlier this week for meaningful dialogue on restoring peace in the Middle East, particularly in Gaza and the West Bank.
Strengthening bilateral ties
The PM thanked President Trump for the tariff arrangement concluded earlier this year, noting it as a milestone in Pakistan-U.S. economic relations. He underscored the importance of further strengthening the longstanding partnership between the two nations.
Shehbaz Sharif also invited American companies to invest in Pakistan’s agriculture, information technology, mining, minerals, and energy sectors, expressing confidence that bilateral cooperation would flourish under Trump’s leadership.
Regional security and counter-terrorism
The two leaders reviewed regional security challenges, with special emphasis on counter-terrorism cooperation. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked President Trump for publicly endorsing Pakistan’s role in the fight against terrorism. He stressed the need to enhance security and intelligence collaboration between the two countries.
Invitation to visit Pakistan
In a gesture of goodwill, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif extended an official invitation to President Trump to visit Pakistan at a convenient time. Trump, on the other hand, presented a model of the White House to the PM and the army chief.
PM's address to UNGA
After the White House meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir left for New York, where the premier will address the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) today.
PM Shehbaz is likely to highlight Indian aggression and the situation in occupied Kashmir, as well as the genocide of Palestinians in Gaza. He will also speak about the devastating effects of terrorism, the rise of Islamophobia, and the urgent challenges posed by climate change, particularly its severe impact on Pakistan.
Earlier, the PM reached Washington, DC, from New York, where he attended sideline events of the ongoing United Nations General Assembly session. His arrival in the US capital was marked by a red-carpet welcome at Andrews Air Base, where a senior US Air Force official formally received him.
The Pakistani delegation, including senior officials, was escorted under tight US security as the prime minister’s motorcade departed the airbase for Washington.
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This marks the third meeting between Prime Minister Sharif and the US president in just three days — a record, as no Pakistani prime minister has previously held so many meetings with a US president in such a short span of time.
In an interaction with the media after signing the executive order on TikTok, Trump praised PM Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, calling them "great".
According to Radio Pakistan, both leaders are scheduled to discuss a wide range of bilateral, regional, and global issues. A Trump administration official told Reuters that Washington and Islamabad are “working through a number of issues when it comes to counter-terrorism, when it comes to economic and trade ties.”
According to the White House, detailed discussions are expected on global and regional issues, including the India-Pakistan war in May and the Kashmir issue, during the meeting in the Oval Office.
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The official added that President Trump remains focused on advancing US interests in the region, which includes close engagement with Pakistan’s leadership.
This bilateral meeting comes after Sharif joined an important gathering of Arab and Islamic leaders with Trump in New York, aimed at stopping what they described as the genocide of oppressed Palestinian citizens in Gaza.
Shehbaz Sharif welcomes Trump’s role
Prime Minister Sharif praised President 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.
Earlier in June, US President Donald Trump had hosted Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir at the White House.
Speaking to reporters following the high-level interaction, Trump had emphasised Pakistan’s strategic importance in the region, particularly with regard to Tehran.
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“We spoke about the Iran-Israel issue. Pakistan understands Iran better than us — they’re a key player in regional peace,” he had stated.
The rare one-on-one meeting, held in the Cabinet Room, was followed by a luncheon hosted by Trump in the army chief’s honour. A White House spokesperson confirmed that the luncheon was arranged to appreciate Pakistan’s role in regional stability and to acknowledge Field Marshal Munir’s efforts in de-escalating tensions between nuclear-armed neighbours, Pakistan and India.
“It’s an honour to meet Field Marshal Asim Munir. I thanked him for not letting things spiral into war,” Trump said, referring to recent cross-border tensions that were defused diplomatically.
The two also discussed potential areas of economic cooperation, with Trump confirming that a trade agreement with Pakistan and India is currently under negotiation.
“We’re in early talks on trade — Pakistan’s concerns are being heard,” he said.
