Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday praised US President Donald Trump for his “bold and decisive” leadership, calling him a “man of peace” during a rare White House meeting also attended by Field Marshal Asim Munir.
According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, Shehbaz credited Trump with helping to avert a “major catastrophe” in South Asia by brokering the Pakistan-India ceasefire earlier this year. He also commended Trump’s efforts to push for an end to the conflict in Gaza, including his initiative to gather Muslim leaders in New York for talks on restoring peace in the Middle East.
The Pakistani leader expressed gratitude for a recently concluded tariff arrangement between Islamabad and Washington, adding that Pakistan sought greater American investment in agriculture, IT, energy, and mining. Both sides also discussed counter-terrorism and intelligence cooperation, with Shehbaz thanking Trump for his public endorsement of Pakistan’s role in fighting terrorism. He formally invited the US president to visit Pakistan.
Photos released from the White House showed cordial discussions between Shehbaz, Trump, and Field Marshal Munir, joined by Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Ahead of the talks, Trump described the Pakistani leaders as “great people.”
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif hailed the meeting as part of a series of “landmark achievements” for Pakistan in 2025, citing the Saudi defence pact, victory over India, and renewed progress in US ties.
Analysts described the engagement as a turning point. Political commentator Qamar Cheema called it a shift from a purely security-driven relationship toward “geo-economics,” noting Trump’s pledge to send American firms to Pakistan for oil exploration. Journalist Faiz Rehman highlighted Pakistan’s deep cultural and historical ties with Iran, saying the renewed US partnership gives Islamabad leverage in broader regional diplomacy.
The meeting follows heightened tensions between India and Pakistan earlier this year, which saw Islamabad shoot down six Indian fighter jets during Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos. The conflict ended with a Trump-brokered ceasefire, for which Pakistan has since nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize.
With Washington’s ties with New Delhi strained over tariffs, visa disputes, and trade talks, observers believe Pakistan has gained new ground in its relations with the US. Democratic leader Shahid Khan noted that Pakistan’s firm stance on Palestine and its growing regional role have boosted its international standing.
As the White House deepens engagement with Islamabad, officials say Trump remains focused on advancing US interests through economic, diplomatic, and counter-terrorism cooperation with Pakistan.
