Oval Office Drama: Trump’s Meeting with Pakistan’s Leaders Delayed

President Donald Trump, speaking from the Oval Office, anticipated the arrival of Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the Field Marshal, expressing uncertainty about their location due to a delay. He lauded the visiting leaders before the scheduled closed-door session. This meeting was set to follow an informal exchange that occurred after Trump met with leaders from eight Islamic-Arab countries, including Pakistan. The United States and Pakistan have seen improving relations, starting with Pakistan’s acknowledgement of Trump’s role in what it perceived as a peace intervention during the May military conflict with India. Trump asserted that he brokered a ceasefire, a claim India refuted. Initially, Pakistan’s military credited its own actions for the ceasefire, but later acknowledged Washington’s role and even nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize. The positive momentum continued as Trump hosted Pakistan’s Army Chief, General Asim Munir, at the White House, with discussions covering trade, economic development, and cryptocurrency. Subsequently, the Trump administration announced a trade agreement with Pakistan and plans to assist in developing its oil reserves. In August, Munir visited Washington again, leading to a USD 500 million US investment for Pakistan’s critical minerals sector. Meanwhile, Trump also signed an executive order related to TikTok, signaling a shift toward American ownership and control. Trump mentioned a discussion with Chinese President Xi Jinping, who purportedly approved the deal, emphasizing American investor involvement. Last week, Trump mentioned that the Chinese President had greenlit the TikTok deal to operate in the US, stating the US would have “tight control” over the app.