Trump Welcomes Sharif, Munir To White House As US-Pakistan Ties Warm
A rare show of camaraderie in Washington, Trump’s meeting with Pakistan’s leaders reflects shifting power equations in South Asia. Image courtesy: X.com/@MichaelKugelman
US President Donald Trump welcomed Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to the White House on September 25, 2025, marking a new phase in relations between Washington and Islamabad.
The meeting, attended by Pakistan’s powerful army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, underscored the recent thaw in ties between the two countries after years of mistrust.
Sharif’s motorcade arrived at the West Executive Avenue entrance, where senior US officials received him. The visit carried historic weight: it was the first time a Pakistani prime minister entered the Oval Office since Imran Khan’s trip in July 2019.
What does the Trump-Sharif meeting mean?
The closed-door session between Trump and Sharif was expected to address a broad agenda, including bilateral relations, trade, regional security, and pressing global challenges.
For Sharif, the White House visit capped a week of intense diplomacy at the United Nations, where he joined leaders from eight Arab and Muslim nations in a joint effort with Trump to push for an end to the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza.
Why did Trump Hail Sharif and Munir as great leaders?
Ahead of the talks, Trump praised both the Pakistani prime minister and army chief. “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 told reporters in the Oval Office.
This public show of warmth highlights the growing personal and political ties between Trump and Pakistan’s leadership. Not long ago, Trump had labeled Pakistan a “safe haven” for terrorists and accused it of misleading the United States.
Now, both Sharif and Munir have nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, citing his mediation in securing a ceasefire between India and Pakistan earlier this year.
How are strategic shifts happening in South Asia?
The Trump-Sharif meeting comes amid shifting regional dynamics. Relations between Washington and Islamabad have warmed even as US-India ties face strains. New Delhi’s expanded oil imports from Russia have triggered sharp US tariffs on Indian goods, which Trump raised to 50 percent last month.
Meanwhile, the United States and Pakistan signed a trade deal in July to develop Pakistan’s untapped oil reserves and reduce tariffs on Pakistani exports. Sharif’s endorsement of Trump’s peace efforts further cements Islamabad’s alignment with Washington.
Although Trump recently expressed optimism about trade talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the White House meeting firmly placed Pakistan back in Washington’s diplomatic spotlight.
