Shehbaz meets Trump, pushes security, trade and Gaza talks

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, accompanied by Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, held a meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House on Friday. The Prime Minister’s Office described the engagement as warm and cordial. Shehbaz praised Trump’s leadership and framed the interaction as part of a broader push to stabilize South Asia and deepen cooperation with Washington. Shehbaz highlighted regional security and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza as central talking points. He lauded recent US-backed diplomatic efforts, saying the initiative to convene Muslim leaders in New York aimed at securing a durable ceasefire in Gaza. The prime minister also credited earlier US engagement with helping avert a dangerous escalation between Pakistan and India this year. The two sides reviewed economic ties, with Shehbaz thanking the US administration for a tariff arrangement concluded earlier in the year. He invited American firms to invest in agriculture, information technology, mining and minerals, and energy, and extended a formal invitation to President Trump to visit Pakistan at a mutually convenient time. Counter-terrorism and intelligence cooperation featured prominently. Shehbaz underscored Islamabad’s role against militancy and said closer coordination would help both countries address shared threats. The Pakistani delegation arrived in Washington from New York after UNGA-related meetings and received a ceremonial welcome at Andrews Air Force Base before proceeding to the White House. Officials signaled that additional high-level engagements were likely during the visit, with discussions expected to span bilateral trade, security, and outstanding regional issues, including Kashmir. The meeting capped a week of multiple interactions between Pakistani leaders and senior US officials, reflecting a deliberate attempt to reset ties and expand practical cooperation.