Report: Donald Trump Made Pakistan PM and Asim Munir Wait 30 Minutes Before White House Meeting

US President Donald Trump met Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir at the White House on Thursday, signaling a rare thaw in bilateral ties. The meeting, also attended by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, came just two days after Trump briefly interacted with Sharif at the UN General Assembly in New York. Trump praised the Pakistani leaders as “great leaders” before their arrival, highlighting his intent to project a warmer tone towards Islamabad. Reports, however, suggested that Sharif and Munir had to wait nearly half an hour before meeting Trump, as the US President continued with executive orders and media engagements in the Oval Office.

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Donald Trump Praise and New Trade Dynamics

Donald Trump welcomed Shehbaz Sharif and Asim Munir with generous words, calling them “very great guys” in front of reporters, which indicated a deliberate shift in US-Pakistan relations. The meeting followed a recently signed trade deal that included a 19 percent tariff on Pakistani imports, while also opening opportunities for American investment in Pakistan’s vast oil and mineral reserves. Earlier this month, Islamabad signed two memorandums of understanding with US officials for supplying critical minerals and rare earth elements, with a $500 million American investment planned. This marks a departure from Trump’s earlier stance in 2018, when he had accused Pakistan of providing Washington with “nothing but lies and deceit.”

Strategic and Economic Stakes in the New Equation

The United States historically treated Pakistan as a strategic partner during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and later in the war on terror, but ties deteriorated over allegations of Pakistan harboring terrorists. The discovery of Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad deepened mistrust, with Trump openly criticizing Islamabad. Now, however, Pakistan is attempting to reposition itself by offering economic incentives, especially in critical minerals and energy resources. Washington’s renewed interest is evident in its hosting of Asim Munir multiple times in recent months, a sign of Pakistan’s growing relevance in US strategic calculations as regional tensions with India remain high.

Trade Growth and Shifts in US-Pakistan Relations

The trade relationship between the US and Pakistan is also expanding alongside the diplomatic reset. According to official data, US goods and services trade with Pakistan totaled USD 10.1 billion in 2024, a 6.3 percent increase from the previous year. Goods exports reached USD 2.1 billion, while imports climbed to USD 5.1 billion, leaving a deficit of USD 3 billion for Washington. This rising engagement has been bolstered by Trump’s pledge to help Pakistan develop its “massive oil reserves,” further aligning the economic interests of both countries. The White House emphasized that these deals could deepen cooperation beyond traditional security ties, laying a new foundation for bilateral engagement.

Donald Trump Signals Diplomatic Shift Since Earlier Hostility

The warmth of Thursday’s meeting contrasted sharply with Trump’s earlier harsh rhetoric and the years of strained relations between the two nations. For Pakistan, this engagement is particularly significant, as the last White House visit by a Pakistani prime minister occurred in 2019, when Imran Khan met Trump on an official visit. Before that, Nawaz Sharif, Shehbaz’s brother, visited in 2015. Analysts note that Trump’s self-claimed role in easing India-Pakistan tensions has also contributed to his outreach to Islamabad, though New Delhi has consistently denied any US mediation. With both sides emphasizing economic cooperation, the meeting marked a notable turning point in US-Pakistan relations under Trump’s leadership.

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