President Donald Trump hosted Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for talks at the White House, marking 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 between the US and Pakistan have improved as Trump’s relationship with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, one of the Republican president’s closest world leaders during his first term, has become strained. This strain comes amid India’s increased purchases of discounted Russian oil following Moscow’s invasion of 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, 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. on Thursday 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.
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.
However, Pakistan split with Trump over 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 undermining the stature of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Recently, Modi was photographed with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping during a security summit in Tianjin, northern China. This led to a social media jab from Trump, who wrote: “Looks like we’ve lost India and Russia to deepest, darkest, China. May they have a long and prosperous future together!”
Despite this, Trump has taken a warmer approach with Modi recently. Last week, he 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 percent last month after imposing an additional 25 percent tariff related to India’s purchases of Russian oil, which helps Moscow fund its war in Ukraine. Trump hosted Modi for White House talks in February.
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