Pak PM Shehbaz Sharif, Army Chief Asim Munir meet Trump at White House, face 30-minute wait

Highlights:

• PM Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir met Trump at the White House after a reported 30-minute wait.
• Meeting followed signing of MoUs on mineral supply and $500M US investment in Pakistan.
• US-Pakistan trade rose to $10.1 billion in 2024, with a 19 per cent tariff on Pakistani imports under new deal.
• Visit marks warming ties after years of strained relations over terrorism allegations.
• Pakistan credited Trump for brokering peace with India and nominated him for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize.

Donald Trump met Pakistan’s prime minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, at the White House on Thursday (25). Secretary of State Marco Rubio also attended the meeting, which marked a significant step toward improved relations between Washington and Islamabad.

Before the meeting, Trump praised both leaders, calling them “great guys” and hinting at a new phase in the US-Pakistan partnership. “We have a great leader coming, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, and the Field Marshal. Field Marshal is a very great guy, and so is the Prime Minister,” Trump said while speaking to reporters.

Half-hour wait before Oval Office talks

Sharif’s motorcade arrived at the White House at 4:52 p.m., but the two leaders reportedly had to wait for about 30 minutes before meeting Trump, according to ANI. The delay was attributed to the US President completing his scheduled engagements and signing several executive orders. Their motorcade was later seen leaving around 6:18 p.m., after what appeared to be an extended discussion.

Trade deal and resource partnerships

The meeting came shortly after Washington and Islamabad signed two key memorandums of understanding (MoUs) on September 8, in the presence of Sharif and Munir. One MoU involves Pakistan supplying critical minerals and rare earth elements to the US, with a US company committing $500 million in investments. This deal follows Trump’s July pledge to work with Pakistan to explore and develop its “massive oil reserves.”

Under the new trade agreement, Pakistani imports will face a 19% tariff, while Washington will assist Islamabad in developing its oil and energy sectors. Trade between the two nations has been growing steadily, with total US-Pakistan goods and services trade reaching $10.1 billion in 2024, up 6.3 per cent from 2023.

Pakistan had given the US “nothing but lies and deceit”

The improved ties mark a dramatic shift from the strained relationship of previous years, when Washington accused Islamabad of harboring terrorists. Trump himself had once declared in 2018 that Pakistan had given the US “nothing but lies and deceit.”
Now, frequent visits by Munir and new trade opportunities indicate that Pakistan is regaining Washington’s trust. The last time a Pakistani prime minister visited the White House was in 2019, when Imran Khan held an “official working visit” with Trump.

India factor and Nobel Peace Prize nomination

Observers attribute part of the US-Pakistan rapprochement to Trump’s claimed role in mediating a ceasefire between India and Pakistan after their military confrontation in May 2025. While India has consistently denied Trump’s claim, Islamabad credited him for the de-escalation and even nominated him for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize.