President Donald Trump hosted Pakistan's prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, for talks Thursday at the White House in the latest sign of warming relations between the United States and the South Asian nuclear power.
Sharif was among the top officials from eight Arab or Muslim countries who met with Trump on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly this week to discuss strategy on ending the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
Ties have improved between the US and Pakistan as Trump's relationship with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, one of the Republican president's closest with a world leader during his first term, has become strained over India's increased purchases of discounted Russian oil after Moscow invaded Ukraine in February 2022. India and Pakistan are neighbors and fierce rivals.
Trump has dramatically raised tariffs on India for those oil purchases in an effort to put indirect economic pressure on Moscow.
Meanwhile, the US and Pakistan reached a trade agreement in July that is expected to allow Washington to help develop Pakistan’s largely untapped oil reserves and lower tariffs for Islamabad.
Sharif arrived at the White House shortly before 5 p.m. as Trump was signing executive orders and talking with reporters. The meeting between the two leaders was closed to the media, with Pakistan's delegation leaving the White House at 6:18 p.m.
According to a statement from Sharif’s office, he was accompanied by Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir. It said Sharif praised Trump as a “man of peace” whose leadership helped avert a catastrophe by facilitating the May ceasefire with India.
Sharif thanked Trump for the US-Pakistan tariff arrangement concluded earlier this year and invited American companies to invest in Pakistan’s agriculture, information technology, mining and energy sectors, it said.
Both leaders also discussed counterterrorism cooperation, with Sharif expressing appreciation for Trump’s endorsement of Pakistan’s role in combating extremism. Sharif extended an invitation for Trump to make an official visit to Pakistan, the statement said.
Sharif has gained favor with Trump since publicly endorsing the American leader for a Nobel Peace Prize for his administration's efforts this year at reducing tensions between Pakistan and India. India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire in May after US-led talks to end the most serious military confrontation between the nuclear-armed rivals in decades.
Unlike Sharif, Modi has declined to indulge Trump’s attempt to claim credit for brokering the ceasefire.
That deal followed weeks of clashes, missile and drone strikes across their borders. The clashes were triggered by a massacre of tourists that India blames on Pakistan, which denies the charge.
Pakistan did split with Trump on his decision to carry out US strikes in June on three Iranian nuclear facilities. Pakistan said the attack “constituted a serious violation of international law” as well as on the stature of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Modi was recently photographed with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping during a security summit in Tianjin, in northern China. That led to a social media jab from Trump.
“Looks like we’ve lost India and Russia to deepest, darkest, China,” Trump wrote. “May they have a long and prosperous future together!”
But Trump has taken a warmer tack with Modi recently.
Last week, Trump offered hope that trade issues with India could be resolved.
“I am pleased to announce that India, and the United States of America, are continuing negotiations to address the Trade Barriers between our two Nations,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
“I look forward to speaking with my very good friend, Prime Minister Modi, in the upcoming weeks. I feel certain that there will be no difficulty in coming to a successful conclusion for both of our Great Countries!”
Trump hit India with tariffs up to 50% last month after imposing an additional 25% tariff on the country related to its purchases of Russian oil, which helps Moscow pay for its war in Ukraine.
Trump hosted Modi for White House talks in February.
