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Today's Paper | December 23, 2024

Updated 21 Jun, 2017 01:41pm

PM Sharif slated to meet US President Trump in upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia

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.

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