Trump to meet Pakistan's PM Shehbaz Sharif, Army Chief Asim Munir amidst India-US trade tensions

US President Donald Trump is likely to meet Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army chief Asim Munir next week, reports said. The top leaders will meet on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

According to Pakistani media reports, Trump and Pakistani leaders will meet on September 25 on sidelines of the UNGA meeting. Trump and Sharif will likely discuss recent floods in Pakistan, trade ties and Israel's unprovoked airstrikes on Qatar, Geo News reported.

The meeting between Trump and Sharif comes after the US president meets with Pakistan Army chief Munir in the White House, in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor. Pakistan had praised the US role in "resolving" military tensions between India and Pakistan and even announced they would nominate his name for the Nobel Peace Prize. However, India denied the role of any third nation in resolving the conflict and maintained that the ceasefire talks were bilateral.

Trump in July announced that the US would partner with Pakistan to develop its massive oil reserves. Reports of meeting between Trump and Pakistan's leadership emerge amid strained trade relations between India and the US.

Trade talks between India and the US had faced a deadlock after US President Trump announced a 50 per cent tariff on Indian imports, over its purchase of oil and defence equipment from Russia. Trump accused India of fueling Russia's conflict against Ukraine by purchasing its cheap crude oil. A US trade team led by Brendan Lynch, Assistant US Trade Representative, is currently holding talks with negotiators in India to finalise the India-US trade deal.