Pak PM, Army Chief wait 30 minutes for Trump

Pak PM, Army Chief wait 30 minutes for Trump

Trump praised Pakistan’s leaders, calling Field Marshal and Prime Minister “great guys,” joking they might already be present in room.

Trump Meets Pakistan’s PM Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir at the White House

US President Donald Trump on Thursday hosted Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir at the White House, a meeting that observers say marks a cautious thaw in Washington-Islamabad ties.

The Oval Office gathering was attended by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other senior officials. While the talks were framed as part of routine diplomatic engagement, they carried weight, given recent strains in the relationship and the backdrop of global uncertainty.

Warm Words, Light Humor

Before the meeting officially began, President Trump spoke briefly with reporters. His remarks, though casual in tone, carried symbolic value.

“We have a great leader coming, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, and the Field Marshal. Field Marshal is a very great guy, and so is the Prime Minister, both, and they’re coming, and they may be in this room right now,” Trump said, smiling.

The statement, while playful, was interpreted as a gesture of warmth toward the Pakistani leadership. Both Sharif and Munir, key figures in Pakistan’s civilian and military spheres, were described by Trump as “great leaders.” For a relationship often defined by sharp rhetoric and mutual suspicion, such language was seen as noteworthy.

The Backdrop: Trade and Diplomacy

The meeting followed closely on the heels of a new trade deal between the US and Pakistan, details of which have yet to be fully disclosed. It also came just two days after Trump and Sharif had a fleeting encounter on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where the US President chaired a multilateral session with leaders from across the Arab and Muslim world, including Egypt, Indonesia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and Pakistan.

That brief interaction at the UN had hinted at a possible warming of ties. Thursday’s White House meeting appeared to build on that momentum.

The Arrival and the Wait

According to the White House pool report, Prime Minister Sharif’s motorcade arrived at 4:52 pm, with the Pakistani leader and Field Marshal Munir greeted by senior administration officials. At the time, Trump was still busy signing several executive orders and fielding questions from reporters in the Oval Office.

This scheduling led to an unusual scene: the visiting Pakistani leaders had to wait. News agency ANI reported that Sharif and Munir were kept waiting for nearly 30 minutes before being ushered in. Photographs from the White House press pool appeared to confirm they were waiting as Trump completed his prior engagements.

By 6:18 pm, the Pakistani Prime Minister’s motorcade was seen leaving the White House. Whether the wait was a deliberate signal or simply a case of presidential over-scheduling remained unclear, but it drew attention back home in Pakistan, where such diplomatic details are often closely scrutinized.

Lunch with Trump: A Familiar Face

For Field Marshal Asim Munir, Thursday’s visit was not his first taste of the White House. Earlier in the summer, Trump had hosted him for a private lunch, a gesture that had sparked curiosity and speculation about the depth of US-Pakistan military-to-military ties under Trump’s second term.

Munir’s presence alongside Sharif on Thursday was interpreted by many analysts as recognition of the enduring role Pakistan’s military establishment plays in shaping foreign policy, especially on matters of security and counterterrorism.

Symbolism and Substance

While neither side released a detailed joint statement immediately after the talks, the symbolism of the meeting itself was notable. For years, Washington and Islamabad have shared a turbulent relationship—cooperation during the Cold War, sharp differences after 9/11, periods of alignment, and long stretches of mistrust.

By openly praising Pakistan’s leaders and hosting both the civilian prime minister and the powerful army chief, Trump appeared to signal a willingness to reset ties, at least partially.

Analysts suggested that trade, counterterrorism cooperation, and regional stability—particularly with regard to Afghanistan and South Asia—were likely on the agenda. Pakistan, facing economic challenges and security concerns at home, has sought stronger ties with Washington to balance its relations with China and the Gulf. For Trump, engaging Islamabad could serve his broader geopolitical strategy of keeping regional players aligned with US interests.

A Thaw, But How Deep?

Despite the cordial tone, questions remain about how deep this thaw truly goes. The half-hour wait may seem minor, but in diplomatic theater, such gestures are often dissected for hidden meaning. Some critics in Pakistan saw it as a sign that Washington still holds Islamabad at arm’s length, while others viewed Trump’s compliments as a meaningful olive branch.

The timing of the meeting—just after the UNGA—suggests the Trump administration may be recalibrating its South Asia approach, potentially drawing Pakistan closer into its diplomatic orbit as tensions with China and Russia continue to shape global alliances.

Looking Ahead

For Sharif, the White House visit offered a chance to project statesmanship back home, where his government faces political and economic pressures. For Munir, it reinforced his standing as a central figure in Pakistan’s international outreach.

For Trump, the optics of hosting two of Pakistan’s most powerful leaders—while sprinkling in humor and characteristic unpredictability—fit into his broader narrative of being a dealmaker unafraid to shake things up.

Whether this meeting translates into concrete policy shifts remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: the White House encounter has reopened space for dialogue at a time when both countries, despite their differences, see value in keeping channels open.

As one observer put it, “In US-Pakistan relations, symbolism often comes before substance. Thursday’s meeting had plenty of symbolism. The substance will reveal itself in the months to come.”