Pak PM and Army Chief Meet Trump at White House
Pak Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office on Thursday.
Field Marshal Asim Munir, Pakistan’s Army Chief, accompanied Sharif for the meeting alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Trump praised both leaders, calling them “great guys,” highlighting a thaw in strained US-Pakistan relations.
Sharif reached the White House at 4:52 pm, greeted by senior administration officials.
However, ANI reported Sharif and Munir waited nearly thirty minutes while Trump completed prior engagements.
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Pak-US Trade Deals Signal Shift in Ties
The meeting followed a fresh trade agreement between Washington and Islamabad signed earlier this September.
Pakistan agreed to supply critical minerals and rare earth elements to the US under the deal.
A US firm committed $500 million investment in Pakistan’s mineral sector, strengthening economic cooperation.
The agreement also included a 19 percent tariff on Pakistani imports entering American markets.
Trump earlier pledged to help Pakistan develop its vast oil reserves, boosting bilateral economic engagement.
Washington Reengages With Islamabad
The US-Pakistan trade volume reached $10.1 billion in 2024, marking a 6.3 percent increase.
US goods exports rose to $2.1 billion, while imports from Pakistan grew to $5.1 billion.
The American goods trade deficit with Pakistan widened to $3 billion, showing a 5.9 percent rise.
Pakistan’s diplomatic strategy appears effective, with Washington hosting Munir thrice after May’s military confrontation with India.
Trump claimed credit for facilitating a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, although New Delhi consistently denied his involvement.
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