ISLAMABAD – Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Thursday said thatPrime Minister Imran Khan was expected to meet US President Donald Trumpsoon.
Qureshi told reporters in Islamabad that Trump had extended an invitationto Imran. However, the prime minister could not travel to Washingtonbecause of the budget session, he said. The foreign minister said thatdates for the expected meeting were being worked out by the two sides.According to Qureshi, the US president expressed his desire to meet thepremier to discuss “important regional matters”.
Official sources said that the meeting between the two leaders was expectedto take place in September when PM Imran will travel to US for the annualsession of the UN General Assembly. Efforts for arranging the Imran-Trumpmeeting have been going on for months. Some officials linked the twoleaders’ summit with possible positive outcome of the ongoing effortsseeking peace deal in Afghanistan.
Relations between Pakistan and the United States have remained tense duringthe Trump’s tenure. The US president publically accused Islamabad of ‘liesand deceit’ and also suspended security and other assistance. But at thesame time, he expressed his desire to work with the Imran-led government.