Trump’s Oval Office Delay: Pakistani PM and Army Chief Face Wait

President Donald Trump, in a pre-meeting address from the Oval Office, acknowledged the impending arrival of Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the Field Marshal. He expressed uncertainty about their current location due to a delay. Trump described the visiting leaders as “great” before his scheduled closed-door meeting with the Prime Minister. This followed an earlier informal exchange between Trump and Sharif after a gathering with leaders from eight Islamic-Arab countries, including Pakistan. The US-Pakistan relationship has seen a warming trend, starting with Pakistan’s acknowledgment of Trump’s role in a perceived peace intervention during the military conflict with India in May. Trump asserted he facilitated a ceasefire, a claim contested by India. Initially, Pakistan’s military attributed the ceasefire to its own efforts, but later credited Washington’s influence, even nominating Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize. The relationship continued to evolve, with Trump hosting Pakistan’s Army Chief, General Asim Munir, at the White House, where discussions covered trade, economic development, and cryptocurrency. Subsequent to this, the Trump administration announced a new trade agreement with Pakistan and plans to assist in exploiting its oil reserves. Further cementing ties, Munir visited Washington again in August, resulting in a USD 500 million US investment aimed at bolstering Pakistan’s critical minerals sector. Concurrently, Trump signed an executive order concerning the video-sharing app TikTok, signaling a shift towards American control. He mentioned a discussion with Chinese President Xi Jinping, who purportedly gave the go-ahead for the deal, emphasizing the involvement of American investors. Last week, Trump announced that the Chinese President had approved the TikTok deal for the platform to continue operating in the US, and the US would have “tight control” over the app.