US-Pakistan Ties Warming Again? Trump Hosts Sharif, Munir
RNS: Signaling a fresh thaw in Washington-Islamabad relations, US President Donald Trump hosted Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Field Marshal Asim Munir at the White House on Thursday.
The 90-minute meeting — attended by Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio — took place on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly and focused heavily on security, counterterrorism, and economic cooperation.
Trump Rolls Out Warmth
In his trademark style, Trump praised his guests, calling Sharif a “great leader” and Munir “a very great guy.” Photos released by Islamabad showed a beaming Trump flashing a thumbs-up alongside the Pakistani delegation.
The talks began about 30 minutes late due to Trump’s schedule, with Sharif and Munir entering the Oval Office at 4:52 pm and departing just after 6 pm.
Pakistan’s PM Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir met US President Donald Trump at the Oval Office
Talks focused on the Pakistan-India ceasefire, Gaza peace efforts, and boosting Pak-US cooperation
Sharif invited Trump to visit Pakistan pic.twitter.com/iTtoSQDMlj
— RT (@RT_com) September 26, 2025
What Was on the Table
According to Pakistani officials, discussions ranged from counterterrorism partnerships and regional stability to fresh opportunities for American investments. Sharif invited US companies to explore Pakistan’s agriculture, energy, mining, and tech sectors.
Washington reportedly expressed keen interest in Pakistan’s rare earth minerals, oil exploration, and even crypto mining opportunities. Both sides agreed to work toward a comprehensive pact covering security cooperation, counterterrorism, and economic engagement.
West Asia featured prominently in the talks as well. Sharif praised Trump’s push for a ceasefire in Gaza, while Pakistan backed US-Saudi security initiatives and vowed to play a constructive role in promoting peace across South Asia and the Middle East.
Sensitive issues also surfaced: terrorism spilling from Afghanistan, unrest in Balochistan, and the Kashmir situation. Sources said Trump assured “full US support” to Islamabad in countering terror threats from Afghan soil. China’s growing footprint in the region and questions over the Bagram Airbase were also part of the closed-door discussion.
A Diplomatic Reset
The meeting comes as US-Pakistan ties warm rapidly following Trump’s return to the White House in January. This was his first face-to-face with Sharif at the Oval Office, though Munir has already made two Washington trips since June.
Notably, the outreach coincides with a downturn in US-India relations. Trump has slapped steep tariffs on Indian exports — including penalties over New Delhi’s purchase of Russian oil.
Islamabad, meanwhile, has gone so far as to nominate Trump for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, citing his role in halting a brief India-Pakistan conflict earlier this year — a claim New Delhi has dismissed.
The Road Ahead
Sharif extended a formal invitation for Trump to visit Pakistan, while Secretary of State Rubio is expected to travel there later this year.
“Washington and Islamabad are gradually warming up again,” a senior official said — and Thursday’s Oval Office meeting may mark the strongest sign yet.
