Shehbaz, Trump Hold “Warm and Cordial” Meeting at White House

APP

Washington: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met U.S. President Donald Trump at the Oval Office on Thursday, lauding him as a “man of peace” for his role in defusing global conflicts, particularly the recent ceasefire between Pakistan and India.

The prime minister, accompanied by Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, described Trump’s leadership as “bold, courageous and decisive,” crediting it with averting a major crisis in South Asia.

Middle East and Gaza Crisis

Discussions also centered on the Middle East, where Shehbaz commended Trump’s initiative to convene Muslim leaders in New York this week to push for an end to the war in Gaza and restoration of peace in Palestine.

Trade, Investment and Economy

Shehbaz expressed appreciation for the tariff arrangements concluded earlier this year, while inviting American companies to explore investment opportunities in Pakistan’s agriculture, IT, minerals, and energy sectors. Both leaders also discussed counter-terrorism and regional security, with the prime minister thanking Trump for publicly recognizing Pakistan’s role in fighting extremism.

Invitation to Visit Pakistan

The prime minister extended an invitation to Trump to visit Pakistan, underscoring hopes for deeper cooperation. Ahead of their talks, Trump described Shehbaz and Field Marshal Munir as “great leaders” during a separate media interaction.

UNGA and Informal Engagements

Shehbaz arrived in Washington from New York, where he attended the 80th UN General Assembly session. He is scheduled to return to New York to deliver his address to the UNGA on Friday. His delegation received a red-carpet welcome at Andrews Air Base under stringent U.S. security measures.

The Oval Office meeting followed an informal interaction between Shehbaz and Trump at the Arab-Islamic Summit in New York earlier this week, co-hosted by Trump and Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

Nobel Peace Prize Nomination

Pakistan has formally recommended Trump for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize for his mediation in the India-Pakistan conflict, and earlier this month the two countries signed agreements on development and processing of critical minerals, including rare earth elements (REEs).