Trump to Meet Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif at White House Amid Improved Ties

US President Donald Trump is set to meet Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the White House on Thursday at 4:30 p.m., a key step in strengthening bilateral relations between Washington and Islamabad. The meeting coincides with Sharif’s visit to the United States for the United Nations General Assembly session. This will be the first official White House meeting between Trump and Sharif since the Pakistani leader assumed office last year. The visit comes after years of strained ties, which worsened during the US withdrawal from Afghanistan and Washington’s deepening partnership with India. Under the Biden administration, engagement between the two countries was minimal, with former ambassador Maleeha Lodhi noting that ties had “reached a new low.” The current visit, she said, reflects a significant shift in Washington’s approach, as Trump acknowledges Pakistan’s strategic importance in both South Asia and the Middle East. The role of Pakistan’s powerful military has also been central to the thaw. Army Chief Gen. Asim Munir has visited the US twice since June, including a private lunch with Trump at the White House. Pakistan’s leadership has credited Trump with helping ease tensions during the conflict with India in May, even nominating him for a Nobel Peace Prize. Alongside security discussions, trade and energy cooperation are also on the agenda. Pakistan has secured a favorable 19% tariff rate on its exports to the US—much lower than India’s 50%—and both sides are negotiating an energy partnership to tap into Pakistan’s oil reserves. The upcoming meeting signals a reset in US-Pakistan relations, with both nations seeking to balance regional challenges and expand cooperation.