Trump Meets Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Munir at White House to Reset Ties

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir met US President Donald J. Trump at the White House on Thursday, marking a high-level engagement aimed at resetting relations and expanding cooperation on security, trade, and regional peace. The Oval Office talks were the first between Trump and Sharif since Trump’s return to power earlier this year, and the first joint appearance by Pakistan’s top civilian and military leadership before a US president in years. The meeting followed a precedent-setting lunch earlier this year between Trump and Field Marshal Munir, conducted without civilian officials — a move that raised eyebrows in diplomatic circles. Analysts say Thursday’s meeting signals a more coordinated Pakistani foreign policy, positioning Islamabad as a key player in South Asia and the Middle East. Sharif described the talks as “warm and cordial,” expressing confidence that “under President Trump’s leadership, the Pakistan-US partnership will be further strengthened to the mutual benefit of both countries.” The meeting comes as Washington’s relationship with India, once a close Trump ally, faces strains over New Delhi’s discounted oil imports from Russia. Trump has since raised tariffs on India, while simultaneously deepening trade ties with Pakistan. In July, the US and Pakistan finalized a landmark trade agreement lowering tariffs on Pakistani exports and paving the way for American investment in Pakistan’s oil reserves, agriculture, IT, and energy sectors. During the meeting, Sharif praised Trump as a “man of peace” whose leadership helped broker a ceasefire between Pakistan and India in May after a four-day conflict. Pakistan credited US mediation for averting “a major catastrophe in South Asia,” while India denied Trump’s role. Security and counterterrorism were also at the forefront, with Sharif calling for expanded intelligence-sharing and thanking Trump for supporting Pakistan’s role in fighting terrorism. However, Islamabad voiced concern over Trump’s June decision to strike Iranian nuclear facilities, calling it a “serious violation of international law.” The engagement highlights Islamabad’s attempt to reset ties with Washington, leveraging Trump’s renewed focus on Pakistan amid shifting geopolitical alliances and strained US-India relations.