ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is scheduled to meet US President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday, according to the presidential program for the day, signaling Islamabad’s deepening relations with the current administration in Washington.
The development comes months after Trump held a rare extended meeting with Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, in June and the signing of a trade deal in July.
US-Pakistan ties have warmed in recent months after Washington had for years viewed Pakistan’s rival India as a counter to China’s influence in Asia. US relations with New Delhi have been strained under Trump over visa hurdles, higher tariffs on Indian goods and the president’s repeated claims that he brokered an India-Pakistan ceasefire in May.
Sharif’s government has praised the US president for helping end the four-day military standoff with India earlier this year, recommending him for the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in de-escalating tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbors.
“4:30 PM. The President participates in a meeting with the Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan,” said Roll Call, a US-based news outlet that tracks Trump’s public schedule. It said the Oval Office meeting would be closed to media.
4:30 PM in Washington corresponds to 1:30 AM Friday in Pakistan.
Earlier, Reuters reported a senior State Department official confirmed the meeting.
“We’re working through a number of issues when it comes to counter-terrorism, when it comes to economic and trade ties,” the official said. “And so the president remains focused on advancing US interests in the region, that includes through engaging with Pakistan and their government leaders.”
Trump briefly interacted with Sharif on Tuesday on the sidelines of the 80th UN General Assembly session, where he invited leaders of Muslim-majority countries to discuss Gaza.
His administration has shown interest in regaining a foothold in Pakistan’s neighborhood, with reports pointing to possible use of Afghanistan’s Bagram air base.
The American president’s meeting with Pakistan’s army chief earlier this year also came amid hostilities between Israel and Iran.
While details of that exchange were not disclosed, Trump said Pakistan knew the Iranians better than other countries and acknowledged the regional conflict had figured in their discussions.
