Trump to Host Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif as U.S.-Pakistan Ties Strengthen

U.S. President Donald Trump is set to meet Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the White House on Thursday, according to a Trump administration official speaking to Reuters. The meeting follows a recent trade agreement that has bolstered relations between Washington and Islamabad after years of strained ties.

Bilateral relations have improved under Trump, particularly after the United States and Pakistan finalized a trade deal on July 31, which included a 19% tariff rate imposed by Washington. While Pakistan has secured this agreement, Trump has yet to strike a trade deal with India, a country long seen as a U.S. counterweight to China in Asia.

Washington’s relationship with New Delhi has faced challenges under Trump’s leadership. Tensions have emerged over visa restrictions for Indian nationals, high U.S. tariffs on Indian goods, and Trump’s repeated claims of mediating a ceasefire between India and Pakistan after clashes in May. Analysts suggest India is now recalibrating its relations with China as a strategic hedge amid these tensions.

Earlier this year, Trump hosted Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, at the White House. The meeting was unprecedented, marking the first time a U.S. president hosted Pakistan’s top military leader without senior civilian officials present. The move signaled Washington’s recognition of the army’s dominant role in Pakistan’s politics.

Pakistan has gone as far as nominating Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, praising his efforts to de-escalate hostilities with India. However, Islamabad has simultaneously condemned U.S. ally Israel for its continued bombardment in Gaza, as well as strikes in Qatar and Iran.

Sharif also joined Trump on Tuesday during a meeting with leaders of Muslim-majority nations held on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly. At the gathering, Trump presented U.S.-backed peace proposals aimed at addressing the crisis in Gaza.