Trump to Meet Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif at Oval Office as Relations With India Remain Strained

 

U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to hold a private discussion with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in the Oval Office on Wednesday, according to the White House agenda. The meeting gains importance as it takes place during a period of growing friction between Washington and New Delhi.

 

Sharif is arriving in Washington after attending the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York. His visit underscores the strengthening relationship between the United States and Pakistan under Trump’s leadership.

 

Improving U.S.–Pakistan Relations

 

Ties between Washington and Islamabad have seen a marked improvement in recent months. For years, the U.S. relied heavily on India to counter China’s influence in Asia, but relations with New Delhi have cooled over issues such as U.S. visa restrictions on Indian nationals, high tariffs imposed by Trump on Indian exports, and the President’s repeated claims of brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan in May.

 

Earlier this year, Trump also welcomed Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, to the White House. This was the first time a U.S. president hosted Pakistan’s top military leader without the presence of senior civilian officials, highlighting the military’s influence in Islamabad.

 

Pakistan has openly supported Trump’s nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to ease tensions between India and Pakistan. At the same time, Islamabad has been critical of U.S. ally Israel’s military actions in Gaza, Qatar, and Iran. In July, Washington and Islamabad further strengthened their ties by announcing a trade agreement that set a 19 percent tariff rate on goods.

 

High-Level Engagements

 

On Tuesday, Sharif briefly interacted with Trump following the U.S. President’s meeting with leaders from eight Islamic and Arab nations, where Pakistan was also represented.

 

Speaking to reporters about the Oval Office meeting, a senior State Department official said Washington is addressing several issues with Pakistan, including counterterrorism, trade, and economic cooperation. “The President is focused on advancing U.S. interests in the region, which includes direct engagement with Pakistan’s leadership,” the official said.