ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is set to meet US President Donald Trump in Washington on Thursday, marking the first official White House meeting between the two countries’ leaders since July 2019.
Diplomatic sources confirmed that the prime minister will briefly travel to the US capital from New York, where he is currently attending the UN General Assembly session, to hold talks with President Trump.
The upcoming engagement signals a sharp departure from recent years of frosty relations. During President Joe Biden’s tenure, Pakistan remained conspicuously absent from Washington’s diplomatic radar, with no phone calls or invitations extended to any Pakistani prime minister. Trump’s return to the White House earlier this year has, however, triggered what observers describe as a dramatic reset in ties.
That reset began in June, when Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir held a rare one-on-one meeting with Trump at the White House an encounter seen as an important overture. “The optics of the army chief’s visit were crucial. This meeting now institutionalises that opening,” a senior Pakistani official told
Analysts believe the Shehbaz-Trump discussions will cover a broad agenda, including bilateral ties, counterterrorism cooperation, Afghanistan, and potential trade avenues. The talks also come at a time when Washington’s relationship with New Delhi has shown signs of strain, particularly over India’s trade restrictions and its growing closeness to Moscow following the Ukraine war. This shift, officials in Islamabad argue, has created a diplomatic opening for Pakistan to reposition itself as a constructive partner in the region.
Still, experts caution against overstating the moment. While Trump’s style is considered more transactional and open compared to Biden’s disengagement, the new chapter in Pakistan-US relations remains fragile and heavily dependent on how both sides choose to navigate their interests.
Prime Minister Shehbaz is expected to return to New York later the same day to resume his UNGA engagements.
