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Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and United States President Donald Trump will meet for the first time in Saudi Arabia, sources in the Foreign Office confirmed.
Nawaz Sharif is expected to land in Saudi Arabia on May 20 for the US-Arab-Islamic summit, which will see leaders from across the world participate in the event.
Sources in the FO confirmed that a meeting between Sharif and Trump was planned; however, a fixed date, time and agenda of the meeting are yet to be finalised.
This will be the first time the two heads of state will meet in person, having only talked on the phone a few months ago before Trump's inauguration.
While Trump called Pakistan 'fantastic' in his phone conversation with the premier, the US president has historically expressed his resentment for the country.
In a tweet from 2011, Trump had said, "Get it Straight: Pakistan is not our friend."
Earlier, a Gulf News report posted on its website the invitations for the coming Arab, Islamic and United States summit were being sent to leaders of the member countries of the Saudi-led Islamic coalition to fight terrorism.
Pakistan is a part of the 41-nation Islamic Military Alliance to Fight Terrorism. Last month, the government granted a no-objection certificate to former army chief Gen Raheel Sharif to assume command of the coalition.
Comments (38) Closed
A chance to appreciate and accept Trump offer of Kashmir mediation.
Pakistan aligned all well for fight against terror with KSA and I am really optimistic with Raheel Shreef as an experienced commander at the center of picture I am really optimistic that things will work in Pakistan favor as KSA is pivot of USA policy in middle east and Pakistan is pivot of KSA and allies.
By attending this summit don't know how much benefit we will get, however it will definitely affect relation with Iran for sure.
@Li-En-Ja to hell with Iran. How much did they deliberate when they started their honeymoon with India
@Li-En-Ja Very strange, some people are still talking about Iran and don't just consider what Iranians and saying and doing against Pakistan. Did they consult Pakistan when they were signing the Chah Bahar port with India?
PM NS & Pres Trump Will Get Along Too Well. They Will Come Out Smiling. NS Should Request Trump To Push India On Kashmir, Not Ask For Aid, He Does-Not-Like-That, And Assure Trump Of Support On Terror Fight. Ask For Business He Will Nod To That.
US will not gain anything by ignoring Pakistan, but by listening to Pakistan, US will have good influence in this region..
@Harmony-1© "A chance to appreciate and accept Trump offer of Kashmir mediation."
Dont think of any other topics of discussion like trade.
Be careful Sir. Don't let him grab anything
Welcome to the club.
@Sipahi - "Dont think of any other topics of discussion like trade."
No, cannot bear barbarism on innocent people, women and children right now!
Good decision of Pakistan of joining 41 nations of joint Islamic force. This will give exposure to Pakistan among Muslim countries.
@Li-En-Ja .iran has been backstabbing us for long by funding terrorism.
I hope our PM won't call President Trump Mr. Clinton just like last time he called President Obama. I addition I hope he won't be reading from cards during his meeting.
Sharif will be one of several "leaders" Trump will meet at the summit. With regard to Pakistani interests this perfunctory and probably formal meeting will be a waste of time. Sharif will get a photo-op or two. Meeting Tillerson and Mattis would be more productive -- these are the movers and shakers in the current US administration. Trump is merely a figurehead.
Trump and NS meeting is not going to garner any results, especially if both Trump and NS are not likely to be last in office by the end of the year. Both have their futures in doubt.
Leaders of 41 countries will have to listen to their leader Mr Trump,,,,interesting
Get it straight. US destroys all friends it makes!
The meeting between two big-wigs can be really crucial as PM has found a low hanging fruit in his domain in the meantime.US relies on Saudia's vantage point before doing anything in the other part of globe, and Pakistan is apple of Saudia's eyes in the meanwhile as Pakistan had responded to KSA's coalition demand by not only joining it, but also providing the kingdom with someone who can hold the reigns. The Chief of 41 nation Islamic Military Alliance to fight terrorism hails from the land of pure and is proeficient in combatting terrorism. Pakistan should cash this extraordinary moment in the best fashion and should ensure that the US policies towards Pakistan are caparisoned.
Trump will only help Pakistan if we can gain something personally. He does not care about anything except building his own personal wealth. Watch out.
Diplomatic coupe!!!!
Trump value personal relations with billionaires. Maybe our Prime Minister's billions will be helpful for Pakistan if he manage to befriend Donald Trump :)
At the backdrop of news about more US troops to Afghanistan,besides Pakistan is still a non- NATO ally of US, President Trump will certainly have a fruitful meeting with PM Nawaz Sharif.
It will be good for Pakistan in the long run should it lessen it's reliance on USA
@Sab se Pehle Pakistan - Nice one :)
Two so called statesmen / business tycoons will finally meet..Paying attention to simple little things that most men neglect makes a few men rich.If you owe fifty dollars you're a piker; if you owe fifty thousand dollars you're a businessman; if you owe fifty million dollars you're a tycoon; if you owe fifty billion dollars you're the pakistan's government.
Do more
@Nomi Goraya wow, lot of optimism. Best of luck to Pakistan and its future
@Saim RaUf but you are already with SA and I believe that's the chance which was missed already. Any bargain usually would have some value at the time of hiring and not after that
What is such a big deal to meet Donald Trump. A lot of American do not even see his face anytime anywhere &. Nawaz Sharif is dying to see him. see
JIT should go to Saudi Arabia to interrogate him.
Did NS meet President Putin during recently concluded Silk Road meeting in Beijing?
What many forget is the fact that China and India have grown beyond the point where US can dictate any terms. India and China are not nations of the 70s and 80s. Mr. Obama also started with Kashmir and Mr. Trump may also start the same. When Mr. Trump weighs in his business in India and the economic interest US has in India, it will not be any worth to pursue to Pakistan's interest.
Trumps changing colors every hour of the day. Nawaz is not qualified to lead Pakistan
Now everyone want to meet us and do business
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will have a packed schedule of foreign visits from next month till July, starting with a trip of Sri Lanka. After Sri Lanka, the Prime Minister will be travelling to St Petersburg in Russia to attend the St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) to be held from June 1-3. Afterwards, Modi will be visiting Kazakhstan to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meet to be held in Astana on June 7-8.
Thereafter, the Prime Minister Modi is slated to travel to Hamburg in Germany to attend the G-20 Summit scheduled to take place on July 7-8, the officials said. He will also be travelling to Israel in July, for which dates are being finalised.
State Visit of President of Palestine to India (May 14-17, 2017) During the visit, President Abbas will visit C-DAC in Noida on May 15 to forge cooperation between Palestine - India Techno Park being built by India in Palestine and Indian IT industry. He will also visit India Islamic Cultural Centre in Delhi. This is the fifth visit and the third State Visit to India by President Abbas. Earlier he had substantive meetings with Prime Minister Modi on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September 2015.