Islamabad (TDI): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has welcomed the recent meeting between US President Donald Trump and Pakistan’s Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, calling it a “positive development” for bilateral ties.
Speaking with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday, the prime minister said the interaction between President Trump and Field Marshal Munir was both respectful and useful, adding that it came at the right time considering the regional tensions.
The Army Chief, who was in Washington earlier this week, had lunch at the White House with Trump. The meeting, according to Pakistani officials, focused on terrorism challenges and ways to improve trade between the two countries.
It was a notable moment. General Munir is the first sitting army chief from Pakistan to be formally received by a US president in such a setting, without being a head of state or military ruler.
According to PTV News, PM Shehbaz’s call with Rubio was friendly and touched on several issues, including the India-Pakistan ceasefire, regional security, and economic cooperation.
During the conversation, the prime minister appreciated Trump’s role in defusing tensions between Islamabad and New Delhi earlier this year. He also credited Rubio for helping facilitate that diplomatic backchannel, which Islamabad says prevented a much worse situation from unfolding.
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The ceasefire, according to the PM, helped avoid a major crisis between two nuclear powers. “Such efforts must continue,” he reportedly told Rubio.
PM Shehbaz also said that Trump’s recent comments about Pakistan had sent a positive signal and could help create space for meaningful talks, especially on unresolved issues like Kashmir and the Indus Waters Treaty.
On the security front, he reaffirmed Pakistan’s determination to deal with terrorist outfits such as the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA).
Rubio, in response, acknowledged the efforts made by Pakistan’s security forces and said Washington would continue to cooperate closely in this regard.
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He also welcomed Pakistan’s commitment to the ceasefire and its diplomatic outreach in a region facing several ongoing challenges, including rising tensions in the Middle East.
PM Shehbaz also pushed for deeper cooperation in areas like energy, technology, rare earth minerals, and trade. He said recent political momentum should now lead to concrete steps, not just discussions. To further build ties, he invited both Trump and Rubio to visit Pakistan.
Rubio thanked the prime minister for the call and said the US remains open to closer collaboration with Pakistan.
Both sides agreed to maintain regular contact and move forward on multiple fronts.
Farkhund Yousafzai is an Associate Editor at The Diplomatic Insight.
