Donald Trump to visit Pakistan soon, says FM Qureshi

U.S. President Donald Trump gestures during a bilateral meeting with Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan at the 50th World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, January 21, 2020. (Reuters)
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Updated 22 January 2020
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Donald Trump to visit Pakistan soon, says FM Qureshi

  • Trump says Washington has never been closer to Islamabad as ‘we are right now’
  • PM Khan says Kabul was the main issue as it concerned both countries

ISLAMABAD: United States President Donald Trump promised to visit Pakistan in the foreseeable future during his hour-long meeting with Prime Minister Imran Khan in Davos, said Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Wednesday.

According to an official statement released by the country’s foreign office, Qureshi said that Pakistan’s prime minister briefed the US president on the measures taken by his administration to satisfy the Financial Action Task Force and sought US support to get Pakistan off the international financial watchdog’s grey list.

Khan also asked the American leader to revisit his country’s travel advisory to Pakistan since that would help the tourism industry in the South Asian country and said that the two sides must try to enhance the quantum of trade between them.

It was also decided during the meeting that an American trade delegation would soon visit Pakistan.

The Pakistani prime minister met with the US president on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Tuesday where the two discussed the Afghan peace process and the ongoing situation in Kashmir.

In a brief address to the media, Trump said that the US was watching the developments between India and Pakistan over Kashmir “very closely,” and that Washington was prepared to help in the matter, if necessary.

“We were talking about Kashmir in relation to what’s going on with Pakistan and India that we can help, so certainly we’ll be helping. We are watching (developments) and following very closely,” Trump said, without adding any further details.

Khan, for his part, said that Afghanistan had been the “main issue... because it concerns the US and Pakistan.”

“Both of us are interested in peace there and an orderly transition in Afghanistan with talks with the Taliban and the government,” he said.

Khan arrived in Davos on Tuesday where he is expected to hold talks with several world leaders on the sidelines of the forum which ends on January 23. His meeting with Trump was the third leadership-level interaction between Pakistan and the US since Khan’s visit to Washington in July last year.

He is visiting Davos on the invitation of Professor Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the WEF, and is being accompanied by Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Adviser on Commerce Abdul Razaq Dawood, and his special assistants Syed Zulfiqar Abbas Bukhari and Dr. Moeed Yusuf for the trip.

The significance of his visit was further highlighted by a Time magazine cover — which features the Pakistani premier alongside four other world leaders in the publication’s special edition of the WEF — which released on Monday.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the WEF.

Khan’s office said that in keeping with this milestone, political leaders, business executives, heads of international organizations and civil society representatives will deliberate on contemporary economic, geopolitical, social and environmental issues.


Pakistan U19 to open tri-series against Afghanistan on Saturday in Zimbabwe

Updated 26 December 2025
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Pakistan U19 to open tri-series against Afghanistan on Saturday in Zimbabwe

  • Pakistan enter the tournament as U19 Asia Cup champions after beating India by 191 runs in Dubai
  • The tri-series is seen as key preparation for next month’s U19 World Cup in Zimbabwe and Namibia

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s under-19 cricket team will begin their tri-series campaign against Afghanistan on Saturday in Harare, using the tournament as a key preparation for next month’s ICC Men’s U19 World Cup co-hosted by Zimbabwe and Namibia.

Pakistan, the reigning ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup champions, are competing in the 50-over tri-series alongside Afghanistan and hosts Zimbabwe, with each team playing the others twice before the top two advance to the final on Jan. 6.

Pakistan won the eight-team Asia Cup in Dubai earlier this month, beating India by 191 runs in the final, and will play a minimum of four matches in the tri-series, starting at Harare Sports Club on Saturday.

“The Asia Cup was a good win for us and the players showed great morale and intensity,” Pakistan captain Farhan Yousaf said, according to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). “The tri-series is very important for the players and will help us find the right combinations ahead of the ICC Men’s U19 World Cup.”

Pakistan will face Zimbabwe on Dec. 29 before meeting Afghanistan again on Jan. 2, followed by a second match against the hosts on Jan. 4. Matches will be played across venues in Harare, including Harare Sports Club, Prince Edward School and Sunrise Sports Club.

The tri-series is being seen as an important warm-up ahead of the U19 World Cup, which will be held from Jan. 15 to Feb. 6. Pakistan are placed in Group C and will play all their group-stage matches in Harare.

“The conditions here are similar and will be beneficial for our World Cup preparations,” Yousaf said. “Both teams in the tournament are strong and competitive and we respect every opposition as we look forward to a competitive event.”

Pakistan will open their World Cup campaign against England on Jan. 16, followed by matches against Scotland and Zimbabwe, with the Super Six stage beginning on Jan. 25 and the final scheduled for Feb. 6 at Harare Sports Club.