NEW YORK/WASHINGTON – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s US visit, already packed with high-profile diplomacy, is set to culminate today with a much-anticipated meeting at the White House with President Donald Trump. Officials describe it as the “flagship engagement” of the trip, though Washington has yet to formally confirm the slot on Trump’s schedule.
US President Donald Trump is expected to meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the White House on Thursday, a Trump administration official told Reuters on Wednesday, with the meeting coming weeks after the two countries agreed to a trade deal.
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Key Highlights So Far
- Diplomats rushed back to Washington to prepare for the White House engagement, but US officials remain guarded.
- The Prime Minister pressed the IMF to consider recent flood devastation in its upcoming review as a delegation arrived in Islamabad.
- In a joint statement, Muslim bloc leaders, after talks with Trump, firmly rejected the forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza.
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Flagship Engagement at White House
Shehbaz’s media team and Pakistan’s embassy staff call the meeting “almost certain.” Several senior diplomats have already shifted operations to Washington, and Pakistani journalists covering the UNGA are preparing to travel south.
Sources indicate that Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir may also join the prime minister, reinforcing the symbolism. Earlier this year, Munir became the first Pakistani military commander to receive a solo White House invitation.
Economic and Regional Context
Alongside diplomatic outreach, Shehbaz met IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva and World Bank President Ajay Banga, highlighting Pakistan’s economic priorities. He also joined Muslim-majority leaders in discussions with Trump on Gaza, where the bloc urged an immediate ceasefire and humanitarian relief.
A Test for US-Pakistan Relations
The White House meeting comes weeks after Islamabad secured a new trade deal with Washington, while India’s ties with the Trump administration face turbulence over tariffs and visa disputes. For Pakistan, today’s moment is more than ceremonial—it signals cautious optimism that a long-troubled relationship could be rebalanced at the highest level.
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