Trump to Host Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif at White House Amid Warming Ties 2025
Donald Trump will meet PM Shehbaz Sharif at the White House on Thursday as U.S.-Pakistan ties warm following a new trade deal.
Washington, Sept 25 (Benaqaab NEWS): U.S. President is expected to meet Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the White House on Thursday, a Trump administration official told Reuters. The meeting comes just weeks after the two nations agreed on a trade deal that signaled a thaw in ties.
U.S.-Pakistan Relations on the Mend
Relations between Washington and Islamabad have improved in recent months after years of mistrust. The United States had previously leaned toward India as a strategic counterbalance to China, but frictions in U.S.-India relations have opened up new diplomatic space for Pakistan.
The July 31 trade agreement imposed a 19% tariff rate on certain goods, marking a shift toward stronger economic ties between the two countries. Trump has yet to reach a trade deal with India.
Trump’s Outreach to Pakistan’s Military
Earlier this year, Trump welcomed Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, to the White House the first time a U.S. president hosted the country’s top general without senior civilian officials present. The move highlighted Washington’s acknowledgment of the military’s influence in Pakistan.
A senior State Department official said the U.S. is “working through issues of counter-terrorism, economic and trade ties,” and emphasized that Trump is focused on advancing U.S. interests in the region through engagement with Pakistan.
Tensions with India Continue
Washington’s relationship with India has faced strain over visa issues, trade tariffs, and Trump’s controversial claims of brokering an India-Pakistan ceasefire. While U.S. officials describe India as a “strong partner,” New Delhi has been recalibrating its relations with China in response to recent tensions with Washington.
The U.S. is also planning a future Quad summit involving India, Australia, Japan, and the U.S., expected either later this year or in early 2026.
Regional Diplomacy and Peace Efforts
Shehbaz Sharif joined Trump on Tuesday in a meeting with leaders of several Muslim-majority countries, where the U.S. president discussed Israel’s ongoing offensive in Gaza. Washington shared peace proposals during the talks, held on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York.
Pakistan has endorsed Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize for his role in easing India-Pakistan tensions, though Islamabad has sharply criticized U.S. ally Israel for its bombardments in Gaza.
The White House meeting between Trump and Shehbaz Sharif is being closely watched as a potential reset moment in U.S.-Pakistan relations. Analysts believe closer ties could reshape regional dynamics, particularly at a time of shifting alliances between Washington, New Delhi, and Beijing.
