Donald Trump refers to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir as “great” individuals prior to a meeting.
- PM Shehbaz talks to Trump about broad spectrum of issues.
- In advance of the meeting, Trump refers to PM, COAS as ‘great’ men.
- More than an hour was consumed by Oval Office meeting.
WASHINGTON: A high-level meeting was conducted by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the White House with US President Donald Trump, where a broad spectrum of issues were discussed.
“Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir Chief of Army Staff met President of the United States, Donald Trump in White House,
Before the meeting, lasting over an hour, the US president, during a media talk, referred to PM Shehbaz and Field Marshal Asim Munir as “great” people.”.
In photos that came out of the White House, Prime Minister Shehbaz, Field Marshal Munir, and US President Trump were photographed having amiable conversations.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance were also part of the meeting.
Responding to the progress, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif stated that 2025 had thus far been a year of success for Pakistan, praising victory over India, the signing of a defence pact with Saudi Arabia, and record-level improvement in Pakistan–US relations.
He further asserted that the success of the “hybrid system” alliance continued to yield benefits, terming these developments as an issue of gratitude and pride.
US-Pakistan relations have eased in recent months under Trump after Washington had long seen Pakistan’s arch-rival India as a counter to China’s presence in Asia.
Democratic leader Shahid Khan, speaking to Geo News, said the recent meeting was extremely important and has taken Pakistan-US relations to a whole new level.
Looking back on meetings between the highest leadership of Pakistan and US president, Khan, a member of President’s Advisory Committee on the Arts under Joe Biden’s presidency, observed that Pakistan not only solidified its significance in South East Asia but has also established a significant role in the Middle East.
He contended that Pakistan currently occupies a permanent seat at the table partly as a result of India’s blunders, as well as Islamabad’s tenacious stance on the Palestinian issue and its equilibrium stance on Iran.
These elements, he argued, have seen Pakistan command increasing respect internationally, with both Western nations and the US relying on it more than ever previously.
PM Shehbaz, President Trump share historic White House meeting
Khan also emphasized that Pakistan’s four-day war with India this year proved the country’s immense power.
The war, he went on, reduced India’s long-standing reputation as the “guardian of security” in the region, while moving Pakistan’s profile towards a determinant role in South East Asia’s strategic dynamics.
He quoted President Trump’s declaration of intent to dispatch American firms to Pakistan for initiating oil exploration ventures.
It was a watershed moment, Cheema said, with the US president giving a jolt of energy to Pakistan’s economy.
Reporter Faiz Rehman, in an interview with Geo News, added that Pakistan not only shares a long border with Iran but also deep historical ties extending over centuries — ranging from culture and civilisation and cuisine to language and trade. These long-standing ties, he maintained, make Pakistan best positioned to appeal to its neighbour in genuine dialogue.
Rehman emphasized that with Trump sitting in the background, Pakistan’s overtures to Iranian leaders have huge implications. For his part, he described these contacts as “bridges of trust” that can stabilize a volatile region.
He added that Trump is a businessman, and his affection for Pakistan is not calculative. Rehman believed that the president observes in Pakistan a partner who can deliver on multiple fronts, including diplomacy, geopolitics, and defence.
Washington’s relations with New Delhi have been tried and tested during the Republican leader on matters ranging from visa obstacles for Indians, increased tariff levels levied by Trump on Indian goods, and Trump’s constant assertion that he had arranged an India-Pakistan ceasefire in May following the South Asian neighbors’ recent hostilities.
Indian aggression moved Pakistan to initiate Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos following the shooting down of six Indian Air Force combat aircraft, three of which were Rafales, in retaliation against Indian unprovoked attacks.
The war finally came to an end through a US-facilitated ceasefire for which President Trump has been praised by Pakistan, and also been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Ever since, Islamabad and Washington have been actively engaged with one another on top-level interactions between both the civil and military leadership as well as have also finalized a highly awaited trade agreement, indicating enhanced bilateral ties between the two nations.
The United States and Pakistan have announced a trade agreement on July 31, in which a 19% tariff rate was imposed by Washington, whereas a trade agreement with India is yet to be obtained.
Officials and analysts have remarked that following tensions with Washington, New Delhi is rebalancing relations with China as a hedge.
Trump hosted Field Marshal Munir earlier this year, the first US president to invite the head of Pakistan’s army to the White House, without being accompanied by senior Pakistani civilian officials.
“We’re dealing with a series of issues in terms of counter-terrorism, in terms of economic and trade relations,” a senior State Department official said during a briefing on Tuesday when asked about Pakistan.
“And so the president continues to focus on promoting US interests in the region, which includes engaging with Pakistan and their leaders,” the official added.
