Trump to Host Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif at White House | U.S.–Pakistan Ties 2025

U.S. President Donald Trump will meet Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the White House on Thursday, according to a senior American official.

The high-level meeting comes only weeks after Washington and Islamabad finalized a new trade deal, reflecting a noticeable improvement in U.S.–Pakistan relations under Trump’s leadership.

Strengthening U.S.–Pakistan Relations

• The July 31 trade agreement, which introduced a 19% tariff rate, is seen as a turning point in bilateral ties.

• Earlier this year, Trump hosted Pakistan’s Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, at the White House — marking the first time a U.S. president officially welcomed the country’s military chief without civilian leaders present.

• American officials say discussions with Sharif will focus on counterterrorism cooperation, trade expansion, and regional stability.

Strains in U.S.–India Ties

While ties with Islamabad are warming, relations with India have faced challenges:

• Visa restrictions on Indian nationals.

• Higher U.S. tariffs on Indian goods.

• Trump’s repeated claim that he brokered a ceasefire between India and Pakistan earlier this year.

Analysts note that New Delhi, wary of Washington’s recent positions, has been re-engaging with China to balance its foreign policy strategy.

Role in Regional Peace

• Pakistan has publicly backed Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize for his role in easing India–Pakistan tensions.

• However, Islamabad continues to criticize U.S. ally Israel over its ongoing operations in Gaza, as well as actions involving Qatar and Iran.

• On Tuesday, Sharif joined other Muslim-majority leaders in a meeting with Trump during the U.N. General Assembly, where Washington presented new peace proposals for Gaza.

What This Means

This Thursday’s White House meeting is expected to:

• Build on the recent U.S.–Pakistan trade deal.

• Reaffirm cooperation on security and counterterrorism.

• Test how far the warming ties can go while Washington manages its strained partnership with India.