- The US-Pakistan tapes are heated under Trump.
- Trump has already hosted Field Marshal Asim Munir.
- American ties with India have been tested since Trump joined.
US President Donald Trump is expected to meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in the White House on Thursday, a Trump administration service member told Reuters Wednesday, with the meeting, which comes weeks after the two countries agreed on a trade agreement.
The Prime Minister and the US President are expected to hold detailed conversations about global and regional issues where Field Marshal Asim Munir is also likely to attend the meeting.
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 has not yet reached a trade agreement with India.
Officials and analysts have noticed that New Delhi, after tension with Washington, is counting with China as a hedge.
Trump welcomed Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir earlier this year, the first time a US president hosted the leader of Pakistan’s army – widely considered the most powerful figure in the country – in the White House not accompanied 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. Washington considered New Delhi a good friend and partner and thought their relationship would define the 21st century, the official said.
They added that Washington had been working on planning a summit in the Quad Grouping of India, Australia, Japan and the United States that India expected to hold in November. It would happen, “If not this year, early next year,” the official said.
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.
Shehbaz was part of a meeting that Trump had on Tuesday with leaders of many countries in Muslim majority in which US president discussed Israel’s attack on Gaza.
Washington says the United States shared peace proposals with leaders from these countries at the meeting held on the sidelines of the annual UN General Assembly.
