U.S. President Donald Trump hosted Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir at the White House on Thursday, September 25, 2025. This was the first official bilateral meeting between Trump and Sharif, six years after former PM Imran Khan visited in 2019.
In a statement to the press beforehand, Trump referred to the visiting leaders as "great" and rolled out the welcome mat. The gathering, in the Oval Office, was joined by Vice President J. D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The talks reportedly took place in a "pleasant atmosphere" and lasted more than an hour, Pakistan's PM Office said.
Pictures from the meeting indicated Trump giving his thumbs-up sign as he posed alongside Sharif and Munir. The leaders discussed bilateral relations, regional stability, and future areas of cooperation, according to reports. Sharif is in the U.S. attending the 80th UN General Assembly session, where he will speak at the General Debate.
Pakistan also shortlisted Trump for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, attributing his contribution to mediating the recent India-Pakistan ceasefire. Trump reiterated that he had "stopped seven wars" in his UNGA address, although India maintains the ceasefire was negotiated directly between the two armies.
In addition to diplomacy, both nations unveiled a new trade pact imposing a 19% tariff on imports from Pakistan and opening U.S. investment in Pakistan's oil deposits. The two-way trade totaled $10.1 billion in 2024, exhibiting steady growth.
The United States and Pakistan have a complex history having been allies once in the Cold War and subsequently having differences over Afghanistan and terrorism. This new engagement could be the start of a new chapter in their relationship.
