Shehbaz Sharif Courts Trump For Bilateral During UNGA Amid Warming Pakistan-US Ties | Exclusive

Last Updated:September 06, 2025, 15:24 IST

Pakistani officials have strategically reserved 3-4 additional days during the visit to accommodate such a meeting, signalling its importance on Islamabad’s diplomatic agenda

(Left) Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and (right) US President Donald Trump. (PTI)

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has expressed a desire to meet US President Donald Trump during his upcoming visit to New York for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session.

A top source told CNN-News18 that the Pakistan Prime Minister’s Office has formally written to the White House, requesting a bilateral meeting between Sharif and Trump. While no confirmation has been issued yet, Pakistani officials have strategically reserved 3-4 additional days during the visit to accommodate such a meeting, signalling its importance on Islamabad’s diplomatic agenda.

Sharif is scheduled to be in New York from September 21-27, and will deliver his address to the UNGA on September 26. On the sidelines of the UN summit, he is also expected to hold meetings with the heads of government or state from China, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Azerbaijan, Türkiye, Iran, and several others.

The development comes at a time when the Trump administration is reportedly working closely with Pakistan, marking a notable thaw in relations after a decade of mistrust and disconnect between Washington and Islamabad.

Earlier in June, Pakistan’s Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir had a private luncheon with President Trump at the White House, a meeting that raised eyebrows and triggered speculation about a deeper recalibration in ties. More recently, Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met with US Secretary Marco Rubio in Washington, signalling continued high-level engagement.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not be attending the UNGA this year. Instead, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will represent India and address the General Assembly on September 27, a day after Sharif’s speech.

With regional optics in play and major powers watching closely, a potential Sharif-Trump meeting could serve as a pivotal moment in redefining US-Pakistan relations.

Manoj Gupta

Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

News world Shehbaz Sharif Courts Trump For Bilateral During UNGA Amid Warming Pakistan-US Ties | Exclusive

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