Trump Praises PM Shehbaz, COAS as ‘Great Men’

White House – (Mudassar Iqbal / Web Desk) – Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif called on President Donald J. Trump, at the White House this afternoon. He was accompanied by Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir NI (M), HJ, and Chief of the Army Staff. During their warm and cordial meeting, the Prime Minister expressed his deep admiration for President Trump, describing him as a “man of peace” who was engaged in sincere efforts to end conflicts around the globe. He appreciated President Trump’s bold, courageous and decisive leadership that had facilitated the ceasefire between Pakistan and India thereby helping to avert a major catastrophe in South Asia.

While discussing the situation in the Middle East, the Prime Minister lauded President Trump’s efforts to bring about an immediate end to the war in Gaza, especially his initiative to invite key leaders of the Muslim world in New York, earlier this week, for a comprehensive exchange of views for restoration of peace in the Middle East, in particular Gaza and the West Bank.

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The two leaders also discussed regional security including counter-terrorism cooperation. The Prime Minister thanked President Trump for his public endorsement of Pakistan’s role in counter-terrorism and stressed the need to further enhance cooperation in security and intelligence.

The Prime Minister also extended a warm and cordial invitation to President Trump to undertake an official visit to Pakistan, at his convenience.

 

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir Chief of Army Staff met President of the United States, Donald Trump in White House, Washington. pic.twitter.com/0uSC9LH8WK

— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) September 25, 2025

M Shehbaz, who was flanked by COAS Asim Munir at the rare meeting, also thanked President Trump for the tariff arrangement that was concluded between Pakistan and the United States earlier this year.

While fondly recalling the longstanding partnership between the two countries, the PM expressed the confidence that under President Trump’s leadership, the Pakistan-US partnership would be further strengthened to the mutual benefit of both countries.

In this regard, the premier invited the US Companies to invest in Pakistan’s agriculture, IT, mines and minerals and energy sectors.

The two leaders also discussed regional security including counter-terrorism cooperation. PM Shehbaz thanked President Trump for his public endorsement of Pakistan’s role in counter-terrorism and stressed the need to further enhance cooperation in security and intelligence.

He also also extended a warm and cordial invitation to President Trump to undertake an official visit to Pakistan, at his convenience.

Ahead of the meeting, which lasted for more than an hour, the US president, while speaking to the media, called PM Shehbaz and Field Marshal Munir “great” people.

In images released from the White House, PM Shehbaz, COAS Field Munir and President Trump were seen engaged in cordial discussions. During the meeting, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance were also present.

Reacting on the development, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said 2025 had so far been a year full of achievements for Pakistan, highlighting victory over India, the signing of a defence agreement with Saudi Arabia, and unprecedented progress in Pakistan–US relations.

He added that the success of the “hybrid system” partnership continued to bear fruit, describing these developments as a matter of gratitude and pride.

US-Pakistan ties have warmed in recent months under Trump after Washington had for years viewed Pakistan’s rival India as a counter to China’s influence in Asia.

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Reflecting on the talks between Pakistan’s top leadership and US president, Khan, who served as a member of the President’s Advisory Committee on the Arts during Joe Biden’s term, noted that Pakistan has not only cemented its importance in South East Asia but has also carved out a meaningful role in the Middle East.

He argued that Pakistan has now secured a permanent seat at the global table, a position shaped partly by India’s missteps and reinforced by Islamabad’s firm stance on the Palestinian issue as well as its balanced approach towards Iran.

These factors, he said, have earned Pakistan growing international respect, with Western powers — including the United States — relying on Islamabad more than ever before.

Khan further highlighted that Pakistan’s four-day conflict with India earlier this year showcased the country’s formidable military strength. The clashes, he noted, dented India’s long-claimed status as the region’s “security guardian,” while positioning Pakistan as a decisive force in South Asia’s strategic landscape.

Analyst says that the recent White House meeting marked a turning point in Pakistan-US relations, shifting focus from security-driven cooperation to geo-economics. He pointed to President Trump’s announcement of plans to send American companies to Pakistan for oil exploration projects as a clear sign of Washington’s growing economic interest. Calling it a watershed moment, Cheema said Trump’s outreach was aimed at giving Pakistan’s economy a significant boost.

Journalist Faiz Rehman added that Pakistan’s deep-rooted cultural, linguistic, and trade ties with Iran give it a unique advantage in pursuing meaningful dialogue with its neighbor. With the Trump meeting as a backdrop, he described Islamabad’s outreach to Tehran as “bridges of trust” that could help stabilize the wider region. Rehman further noted that Trump’s warm approach towards Pakistan was rooted in pragmatic calculations. As a businessman, he said, Trump sees Pakistan as a partner capable of delivering on diplomacy, defence, and geopolitics.

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Washington’s ties with New Delhi have faced turbulence under the Trump administration, strained by high tariffs on Indian goods, visa restrictions, and the US president’s repeated claims that he personally brokered the May ceasefire between India and Pakistan.

That ceasefire came after Pakistan launched Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos, downing six Indian fighter jets — including three Rafales — in retaliation for unprovoked Indian aggression. Islamabad credited Trump for mediating the truce and even nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Since then, Pakistan and the US have held frequent high-level engagements involving both civilian and military leadership, culminating in a much-publicised trade agreement announced on July 31. Under the deal, Washington set a 19% tariff rate for Pakistani exports, while trade talks with India remain stalled.

Observers note that, in response, New Delhi has begun recalibrating ties with China as a hedge against its strained relationship with Washington.

In a historic first, Trump also welcomed Field Marshal Asim Munir to the White House earlier this year, marking the first time a US president hosted Pakistan’s army chief without senior civilian leaders present.

A senior State Department official, briefing reporters, summed up the administration’s approach: “We’re working through a number of issues — counter-terrorism, economic and trade ties. The president remains focused on advancing US interests in the region, which includes direct engagement with Pakistan and its leadership.”