In the Oval Office, President Donald Trump addressed reporters, mentioning the expected arrival of Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the Field Marshal. He noted a delay and speculated they might already be present. Trump praised the Prime Minister and Field Marshal before their planned closed-door meeting. This meeting was preceded by an informal exchange between Trump and Sharif following a meeting with leaders from eight Islamic-Arab nations, including Pakistan. US-Pakistan relations experienced a thaw after Pakistan attributed to Trump’s efforts during the military conflict with India in May. Trump stated he helped broker a ceasefire, a claim disputed by India. Initially, the Pakistani military said it initiated the ceasefire but later recognized Washington’s efforts, even suggesting Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize. The improving relationship continued with Trump’s welcoming of Pakistan’s Army Chief, General Asim Munir, to the White House, where discussions covered trade, economic development, and cryptocurrency. The Trump administration later announced a new trade agreement with Pakistan and plans to support its oil reserves development. Munir’s subsequent August visit to Washington led to a USD 500 million US investment to support Pakistan’s critical minerals sector. Concurrent with this, Trump signed an executive order regarding TikTok, reflecting a move toward American control. Trump shared that he had a conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping, who had purportedly approved the TikTok deal, highlighting the role of American investors. Recently, Trump announced that the Chinese President had approved the TikTok deal, allowing the platform to continue operating in the US, and that the US would have “tight control” over the app.
