NEW YORK: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has lauded U.S. President Donald Trump and his administration for their role in facilitating the recent ceasefire between Pakistan and India, describing the American leader as a “man of peace” and a strong advocate for global stability.

“President Donald Trump is a man of peace. He, along with his team, played a key role in bringing about the ceasefire between Pakistan and India,” the prime minister told reporters at the United Nations headquarters.

Prime Minister Shehbaz attended the opening session of the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Tuesday, accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, and Special Assistant to the PM Tariq Fatemi.

According to diplomatic sources, the prime minister will briefly travel to Washington on Thursday for a bilateral meeting with President Trump at the White House — the first such engagement between the two leaders. The last time a Pakistani prime minister met President Trump at the White House was in July 2019, when then-premier Imran Khan visited Washington.

Observers note that since Trump returned to office in January, there has been a dramatic shift in Pakistan-U.S. relations, contrasting with the Biden administration’s distant approach. In June, President Trump hosted Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, General Asim Munir, in a rare one-on-one meeting, signaling a thaw in ties. Analysts view the upcoming Shehbaz-Trump talks as a continuation of this reset.

Diplomatic insiders believe the White House meeting will focus on strengthening bilateral ties, counterterrorism cooperation, trade opportunities, and regional issues, particularly Afghanistan. The talks also come amid tensions between Washington and New Delhi over trade restrictions and India’s close alignment with Moscow after the Ukraine war — developments that Pakistani officials see as an opening to reassert Pakistan’s strategic value.

Prime Minister Shehbaz will return to New York the same day to continue his UNGA engagements. He is also scheduled to attend a special summit of Arab and Islamic countries co-hosted by the United States and Qatar, where President Trump will also be present.

Meanwhile, the prime minister met with IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva in New York. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to structural reforms under the Fund’s program while urging that the devastating impact of recent floods be taken into account during economic reviews.

Shehbaz praised the IMF’s longstanding support, citing the $3 billion Stand-By Arrangement in 2024, the $7 billion Extended Fund Facility, and the $1.4 billion Resilience and Sustainability Facility. He said Pakistan’s economy is showing early signs of stabilization and recovery.

Georgieva expressed sympathy for flood-affected communities and commended the government’s efforts toward sound economic policies, pledging the IMF’s continued support.