Credit Ai (Credit Ai)
International News: Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif will visit Washington to meet US President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday. The meeting comes after six long years without a formal high-level dialogue between the two countries. Sharif is currently in New York attending the United Nations General Assembly but will make a one-day trip to Washington for the talks. He is expected to return to New York the same evening.
Before this official meeting, Sharif briefly interacted with Trump during an informal session in New York. The interaction happened on the sidelines of meetings with eight Islamic and Arab leaders. Officials suggest that this informal contact helped prepare the ground for a more structured discussion in Washington. This adds weight to the expectations from Thursday’s high-profile meeting.
The last time a Pakistani Prime Minister met Donald Trump was in 2019 when Imran Khan visited Washington. Since then, relations between the two nations have cooled down, especially under the Biden administration. Biden neither spoke to Pakistan’s leadership nor extended an invitation to the White House, creating a period of diplomatic distance. The Trump-Sharif talks are therefore being seen as a turning point.
Since Trump returned to power earlier this year, Pakistan has noticed a visible change in America’s approach. Unlike Biden, Trump appears willing to engage more closely with Islamabad. This shift has raised hopes in Pakistan that cooperation on trade, military, and regional issues might improve. Still, analysts caution that restoring trust will take time and consistent efforts from both sides.
In June this year, Pakistan’s Army Chief, General Asim Munir, also visited the White House to meet President Trump. That meeting was described as an important signal of warming ties between the two nations. Now, Sharif’s arrival is being seen as the continuation of this engagement. Observers believe the military’s involvement shows how seriously Pakistan is treating this opportunity.
Both leaders are expected to discuss multiple issues. These include Afghanistan’s stability, counter-terrorism measures, regional tensions, and ways to boost bilateral trade. Pakistan is also likely to raise concerns about economic support and development partnerships. While Trump is said to be open to resetting ties, experts feel progress may come slowly and depend on consistent cooperation.
The timing of this meeting is crucial. It comes as the Middle East faces renewed instability, with Israel recently targeting Hamas leaders in Qatar. These events have drawn strong reactions from Arab countries allied with the US. Pakistan, being an active member of the Arab League and the OIC, is deeply involved in these discussions. This adds urgency and global significance to the Washington meeting.
Copyright © 2025 Top Indian News
