President Donald Trump welcomed Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir at the White House, marking their first formal bilateral meeting. The talks focused on trade, diplomacy, and Trump’s self-claimed role in easing India-Pakistan tensions.

U.S. President Donald Trump hosted Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir at the White House on Thursday, in their first formal bilateral meeting. The discussion took place on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York and lasted nearly 80 minutes, according to Pakistan’s Prime Minister’s Office.

Trump Meets Pakistan Leaders Amid UNGA With 80-Minute Oval Office Talks

The meeting, attended by Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, began later than scheduled due to Trump’s earlier commitments. Pakistan’s officials described the session as held in a “pleasant atmosphere.” Before the meeting, Trump praised Sharif as “a great leader” and called both Sharif and Munir “great guys.” Post-meeting photographs showed Trump giving his signature thumbs-up alongside the Pakistani delegation.

Talks Cover Regional Security, Trade, And India-Pakistan Ceasefire

The leaders discussed regional and global issues, including security cooperation and trade relations. Trump highlighted his administration’s role in mediating the recent India-Pakistan ceasefire, claiming it was a significant achievement. Pakistan has nominated Trump for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize for his “decisive diplomatic intervention,” though India maintains the truce was agreed directly between the two militaries’ commanders.

The U.S. and Pakistan also finalised a trade deal, imposing a 19% tariff on Pakistani imports while enabling U.S. assistance in developing Pakistan’s oil reserves. Trade between the two nations reached $10.1 billion in 2024, up 6.3% from the previous year.

White House Meeting Marks Step Toward Renewed U.S.-Pakistan Cooperation

This visit is the first by a Pakistani prime minister to the White House since Imran Khan met Trump in July 2019, and the first since Nawaz Sharif visited in 2015. Historically, Washington and Islamabad were Cold War allies, cooperating against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan, but ties later deteriorated due to Pakistan’s alleged Taliban connections and the 2011 Osama bin Laden raid. The meeting carries symbolic weight as both countries explore renewed cooperation in trade, security, and regional diplomacy.