WASHINGTON (THE THURSDAY TIMES) — Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan’s Chief of the Army Staff, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, held a high-level meeting with United States President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday. The session focused on strengthening bilateral ties, exploring new avenues of regional cooperation and addressing international challenges where the two countries share interests.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the discussion took place in a cordial and confident atmosphere and reflected a renewed willingness on both sides to build momentum around security, trade and humanitarian partnerships. Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar joined the delegation, underscoring Islamabad’s intention to present a unified front in Washington.
The American side included Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, signalling the administration’s emphasis on re-engaging Pakistan at the highest level. Both governments framed the talks as an opportunity to stabilise ties after years of fluctuating relations and to explore cooperation on issues ranging from counterterrorism to climate adaptation.
Ahead of the meeting President Trump described Prime Minister Sharif and Field Marshal Munir as “great leaders” and praised their stewardship of Pakistan, remarks that were widely interpreted as a public vote of confidence in Islamabad’s current leadership. Observers said the unusually warm language and expanded US delegation reflected Washington’s interest in drawing Pakistan closer at a moment of regional uncertainty.
