U.S. President Donald Trump presided over Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief of Staff Marshal Asim Munir in the early hours of Friday morning in the Oval Office in Washington, D.C.
After the meeting, a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said that U.S. Vice President Judd Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were also present.
Photos released after the meeting showed Prime Minister Shehbaz and Marshal Field Munir exchanged views with Trump. Trump also flashed his iconic thumb sign in the group photos.
The meeting was originally scheduled to begin at 4:30 pm Washington time (1:30 AM) and the meeting was originally scheduled to begin at 4:30 PM, but the Presidential Ghost was delayed by about 30 minutes after signing the execution order. The meeting itself lasted about an hour and 20 minutes.
Photos before the White House Press began show Prime Minister Shehbaz and Field Munir Munir patiently waited on oval gold-plated furniture as the US president ended his previous engagement throughout the room.
When media personnel packed up their equipment, the Army chief could also be seen talking to White House staff. When U.S. Secretary of State Rubio entered the room, he could see a warm greeting to both leaders.
The visit is the first formal bilateral interaction between the two leaders, six years later Former Prime Minister Imran Khan and Trump During the first semester of July 2019.
Trump said in a conversation with reporters before the meeting that a “great leader” is coming to the White House.
He told reporters: “We already have the Pakistani Prime Minister come and the wild marshal… (He) is a great man, and so is the Prime Minister.”
The White House schedule for the U.S. presidential was released by the White House that showed that the meeting would close the publishers that Trump usually commits the crime, if Trump usually invites select cameras and journalists into the Oval Office for photography.
Pakistan radio Earlier reports said the two were “anticipated to discuss issues of common interests and regional and global situations.”
The development was held at the 80th session of the Prime Minister in New York at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). During the whirlwind tour, Prime Minister Shehbaz attended the Unga Sessions, an important multilateral summit for the Muslim group, and Side meeting With the head of the New York International Financial Institution.
The Prime Minister is expected to return to New York after meeting with Trump as he is expected to address UNGA on Friday.
‘The relationship between pak-us is getting warmer’
A senior State Council official told dawn The relationship between Washington and Islamabad “gradually warmed” during Trump’s second term.
For years, the United States has seen India as a counterpart to China’s growing influence in Asia, while Pakistan has been called a Chinese ally.
Since Trump Back to the office In January 2025, U.S.-India relations are under pressure due to Indian visa barriers Imposed Washington’s author on Indian goods, the president repeatedly claims that he personally contributed to India – Pakistan Ceasefire In May, cross-border holdings are followed.
The senior official stressed that the U.S.-Pakistan relationship has nothing to do with its partnership with India.
“We have an independent relationship with Pakistan,” he said, recalling recent multimillion-dollar U.S. investment in Pakistan’s minerals sector and noting the continued U.S. interest in oil exploration.
The official added in response to a question that Washington is quietly reviewing the recently ended defense agreement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
On July 31, the two countries announced a trade agreement under which the United States imposed 19% tariffs on Pakistani goods. Trump has not reached a similar deal with India. Analysts pointed out that New Delhi has begun to restart relations with China as a hedge in response to tensions in Washington.
Earlier this year, Trump welcome White House Field Marshal Munir – The US President first hosted Pakistan’s military leaders without senior civilian officials, highlighting the central role of the military in bilateral relations.
When asked about Pakistan, senior State Department officials said: “We are dealing with many issues when it comes to counter-terrorism, economic and trade relations.”
“The President therefore remains focused on promoting the interests of the region, including interacting with Pakistan and its government leaders.”
In India, the official said Trump believes in frankly the frustration of the relationship but still thinks it is strong. He added that Washington continues to see New Delhi as “a good friend and companion” and that its connection to the United States will “define the 21st century.”
Islamabad has Public support Trump won the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to tense with India, even as it condemned Israeli bombings in Gaza, Qatar and Iran.
Prime Minister Sharif also joined Trump on Tuesday Meeting Along with leaders of several Muslim majority countries, the U.S. president discussed Israel’s attack on Gaza and shared a U.S. proposal for peace, amid the UN General Assembly.
In the afternoon, Shehbaz met Yunus from Bangladesh
According to the State Broadcasting Corporation Pakistan radio.
At this meeting, the Prime Minister reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening “constructive and forward-looking ties” with Bangladesh, rooted in a shared aspiration for mutual respect, trust and regional peace and prosperity, Pakistan radio Reported.
The two leaders reviewed the status quo of Pakistan-Bangladesh bilateral relations and discussed ways to strengthen cooperation in areas including trade, regional connectivity and people-to-people exchanges.
Yunus said Yunus appreciated the initiative of Pakistan to deepen participation and emphasized the importance of strengthening bilateral trade and cultural ties.
Other inputs from Reuters
