Pakistani PM and Army Chief hold closed-door talks with Donald Trump at White House

September 26, 2025

Washington, DC: Pakistani PM Shahbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir met US President Donald Trump late Thursday night.

The meeting took place behind closed doors at the White House. The media was kept away. Trump kept Shahbaz waiting for about 30 minutes.

A statement issued by the Pakistani Prime Minister’s Office said that US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were also present at the meeting. Details about the issues discussed at the meeting were not immediately available.

The two leaders previously met on September 23rd in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). The meeting also included leaders from Qatar, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Egypt, the UAE, and Jordan. They discussed stopping the Gaza conflict.

Shahbaz waited while Trump spoke to the media.

The Pakistani Prime Minister arrived at the White House around 2 a.m., while Trump was signing executive orders and speaking to reporters.

This delayed Trump’s meeting with Shahbaz by approximately 30 minutes. The meeting between the two lasted approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes. Shahbaz left the White House at 3:48 am.

Speaking to reporters before the meeting, Trump said a “great leader” was coming to the White House. Trump told the media,

This was Shahbaz Sharif’s first meeting with a US president in the Oval Office. It was the first time a Pakistani prime minister has met with a US president in six years. The previous meeting was between Imran Khan and Trump in July 2019.

The White House did not release photos or videos of the meeting.

The White House has not yet released any photos or videos of the conversation between Trump and Sharif-Munir. Typically, the White House releases official photos when the US president meets with a foreign leader.

Its purpose is to provide photographs for public documentation and media coverage. However, in the case of Pakistan, the White House has not yet released any such photographs or videos. Previously, the White House did not release any such photographs even after the meeting between Trump and Munir.

What does this meeting mean for India?

This meeting is significant for India, as the growing closeness between the US and Pakistan could strain India-US relations. Trump has imposed higher tariffs and stricter visa regulations on India, angering India.

Relations between the US and Pakistan have improved recently, and relations between Trump and Shahbaz have also warmed.

Trump’s claim that he brokered a ceasefire between India and Pakistan has been repeatedly rejected by India. This has also led to tensions in India-US relations.

On the other hand, Pakistan has praised Trump’s efforts and nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize.