Washington:
US President Donald Trump on Thursday hosted Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for conversations in the White House in the latest sign of warming relationship between Washington and the South Asian nuclear power.
Sharif was among the top officials of eight Arab and Muslim countries who met with Trump on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly this week to discuss strategy to end the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
The two leaders discussed bilateral connections.
The prime minister welcomed a red rug when he arrived in Washington DC with the Pakistani delegation to meet the US president.
Upon arrival at Andrews Air Base, the prime minister was welcomed on the red carpet by a senior American Air Force Officer.
The Prime Minister’s Motorcade left the airline base in the ring of American security. Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir also accompanied the Prime Minister.
On the US side, participants at the meeting are likely to include State Secretary Marco Rubio, Vice President JD Vance and senior officials with Trump.
This marks the third meeting between the Prime Minister and the US President in just three days – a record, as no Pakistani Prime Minister has previously held so many meetings with a US president in such a short period of time.
Prior to the meeting, the US president called while talking to the media, PM Shehbaz and Field Marshal Asim Munir “big” people.
US-Pakistan tape has been heated in recent months under Trump after Washington had seen Pakistan’s rival India as a counter to China’s influence in Asia for years.
Washington’s relations with New Delhi have been tested by the Republican leader over questions such as Visa obstacles for Indians, high tariffs imposed by Trump on Goods from India and Trump’s repeated claims that he mediated an India-Pakistan ceasefire in May after the South Asian neighbors were dealing with their recent host.
The United States and Pakistan announced a trade agreement on July 31 with a 19% tariff rate imposed by Washington. Trump is not yet to reach a trade agreement with India.
Trump welcomed Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir earlier this year, the first time a US president hosted the leader of Pakistan’s army in the White House not Caccompanied by senior Pakistani civilian officials.
“We work through a number of questions when it comes to terrorism when it comes to financial and trade tapes,” an official in the senior department told journalists in a briefing on Tuesday when asked about Pakistan.
“And then the president remains focused on promoting US interests in the region, which includes through engagement with Pakistan and their government leaders,” the official said.
When asked about friction with India, the official said Trump believed to be honest with frustrations in ties, but the relationship was strong.
Pakistan has supported Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to step down tension between India and Pakistan, though Islamabad has condemned us allied Israeli bombings in Gaza, Qatar and Iran.
(With additional input from News Desk)
