Trump to meet Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday, US official says

WASHINGTON/ISLAMABAD - US President Donald Trump is expected to meet Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the White House on Sept 25, a Trump administration official told Reuters on Sept 24, with the meeting coming weeks after the two countries agreed to a trade deal.

US-Pakistan ties have warmed in recent months under Mr Trump after Washington had for years viewed Pakistan's rival India as a counter to China's influence in Asia.

Washington's relations with New Delhi have been tested under the Republican leader over issues like visa hurdles for Indians, high tariff rates imposed by Mr Trump on goods from India and Mr Trump's repeated claims that he

brokered an India-Pakistan ceasefire

in May after the South Asian neighbors engaged in their latest hostilities.

The US and Pakistan announced a trade deal on July 31 with a 19 per cent tariff rate imposed by Washington. Mr Trump is yet to reach a trade deal with India.

Officials and analysts have noted that after tensions with Washington, New Delhi is recalibrating relations with China as a hedge.

Mr Trump has already

hosted Pakistani army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir

earlier this year, marking the first time a US president hosted the head of Pakistan's army - widely regarded as the most powerful figure in the country - at the White House, unaccompanied by senior Pakistani civilian officials.

Pakistan has backed Mr Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts in de-escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, although Islamabad has condemned US ally Israel's bombardments in Gaza, Qatar and Iran.

Mr Sharif was part of a meeting Mr Trump had on Sept 23 with

leaders of many Muslim-majority countries

where the US president discussed Israel's assault on Gaza.

Washington says the US shared peace proposals with leaders from those countries in the meeting held on the sidelines of the annual United Nations General Assembly. REUTERS