In a significant diplomatic moment, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir met US President Donald J. Trump at the White House on Thursday, signaling Pakistan’s intent to reset ties with Washington. The meeting, the first joint civilian–military engagement before a US president in years, underscored Islamabad’s bid for a coordinated foreign policy amid shifting regional geopolitics.
The Oval Office talks marked Sharif’s first encounter with Trump since his return to power. Pakistan’s leadership presented a united front, reflecting a calculated move to strengthen its voice in wider Middle Eastern and Asian security discussions. Sharif described the exchange as “warm and cordial,” expressing confidence in a new chapter of bilateral cooperation.
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Key themes included security, trade, and regional peace. Sharif invited US firms to invest in Pakistan’s agriculture, IT, minerals, and energy sectors, while thanking Trump for endorsing Pakistan’s counterterrorism role. Both sides acknowledged the July trade agreement, opening avenues for energy exploration and tariff relief.
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The backdrop of the talks was Trump’s cooling relations with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, strained over New Delhi’s discounted Russian oil imports. Islamabad, by contrast, found favor with Trump after supporting his ceasefire diplomacy in May, which helped avert a regional conflict.
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While Sharif praised Trump’s “bold and decisive leadership,” Pakistan diverged from Washington on US strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities, calling them a violation of international law. The engagement nonetheless reaffirmed Pakistan’s strategic importance as Washington recalibrates regional partnerships.
