Washington (TDI): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met US President Donald Trump at the White House on Friday in what officials described as a landmark engagement focused on regional security, counterterrorism, and expanding bilateral ties.
The prime minister was joined by Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir. On the US side, Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio sat in on the discussions.
According to the PM Office, Shehbaz expressed appreciation for Washington’s recognition of Pakistan’s efforts in the fight against terrorism and underlined the need for closer collaboration in intelligence sharing and security. He praised Trump as “a man of peace” and credited the US president’s mediation with helping defuse the India–Pakistan military flare-up in May, which he said “prevented a major catastrophe in South Asia.”
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The prime minister also invited Trump to undertake an official visit to Pakistan, extending what was described as a “warm and cordial” invitation.
Turning to the Middle East, Shehbaz welcomed Trump’s initiative earlier this week in New York, where the US leader gathered senior Muslim statesmen for talks aimed at halting the war in Gaza. He noted the effort as an important step toward restoring peace in Gaza and the West Bank.
Economic issues were also on the agenda. Thanking Trump for the recent tariff agreement with Pakistan, Shehbaz urged American investors to look at opportunities in agriculture, information technology, energy, and the mining sector.
Before the talks, Trump told journalists he was expecting “a great leader” at the White House, referring warmly to both Shehbaz and Munir.
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The meeting marks the first formal interaction between the two leaders. The last time a Pakistani premier visited the Oval Office was in July 2019, when Imran Khan met Trump during his first term.
Shehbaz is in the United States for the 80th United Nations General Assembly session in New York, where he has also attended meetings with Muslim leaders and heads of international financial institutions. He is scheduled to deliver his address at the UNGA today.
Sohail Majeed
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
