WASHINGTON: Pakistan is preparing for a key diplomatic breakthrough as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is expected to meet United States President Donald Trump on September 25. Reliable sources confirmed the meeting on Tuesday.
The talks are planned on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir will also join the meeting. According to insiders, Qatar and Saudi Arabia have both extended support and endorsement for this engagement.
The agenda will cover multiple pressing issues. Sources said the discussions will range from Pakistan’s devastating floods to the fallout of the Israeli strike on Qatar. The tense Pakistan-India situation is also expected to be addressed in this high-level dialogue.
Diplomatic insiders shared that Doha and Riyadh are backing the Shehbaz-Trump interaction. However, Pakistan’s embassy in Washington has chosen not to issue any official confirmation or denial.
This development highlights the gradual improvement in Pakistan-US relations. Ties between Islamabad and Washington have warmed notably after the armed clash between Pakistan and India in May. That conflict ended only after President Trump mediated and secured a ceasefire between the two nuclear rivals.
The recent diplomatic momentum was reinforced by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar’s phone call with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday. Both sides vowed to strengthen Pakistan-US relations further and expand cooperation in diverse areas.
Dar had already met Rubio in July. During that meeting, they reviewed prospects for deeper collaboration in trade, economy, investment, counter-terrorism, and regional stability.
Soon afterward, Islamabad and Washington announced a new trade agreement. The deal aimed to boost bilateral trade, improve market access, attract investment, and enhance cooperation in several shared areas. It also included tariff reductions, particularly for Pakistani exports, and a new start in economic cooperation that covers oil reserves development.
In another major step, Pakistan secured a $500 million investment from the United States earlier this month. The deal, signed with United States Strategic Metals (USSM), focused on Pakistan’s critical minerals sector.
The strengthening of Pakistan-US relations is also linked to the active role of Field Marshal Asim Munir. The army chief has made multiple high-level visits to the US this year. In June, he held a rare one-on-one meeting with President Trump.
He returned to Washington again in August. The visit was for the retirement ceremony of outgoing Centcom Commander General Michael E Kurilla and the change of command ceremony for Admiral Brad Cooper. During the same trip, he also met Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine.