Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif is set to meet US President Donald Trump on September 23 in New York. The high-stakes meeting comes amid tensions over the Indus Waters Treaty and Pakistan's new defense pact.

  • PM Shehbaz Sharif and President Donald Trump are expected to meet on September 23.
  • The meeting will coincide with a reception dinner at the Lotte New York Palace Hotel.
  • Key agenda items include the Indus Waters Treaty and the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement.

In a significant diplomatic development, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is expected to hold a high-level meeting with US President Donald Trump on September 23. The encounter is slated to take place on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York. According to high-level sources, Sharif has been invited to a reception dinner hosted by the Trumps at the prestigious Lotte New York Palace Hotel on Madison Avenue.

The Indus Waters Treaty Crisis

A central theme of Sharif's visit is the ongoing dispute regarding the Indus Waters Treaty. Following the tragic Pahalgam terror attack in April 2025, India took the unprecedented step of putting the 1960 treaty into abeyance. India’s stance remains firm: the treaty’s status will only be restored once Pakistan takes credible and irrevocable action against cross-border terrorism. Sharif is expected to use his upcoming UNGA address on September 25 to challenge this position and seek international mediation.

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A New Era of Defense: The Makkah Agreement

Beyond the water dispute, Sharif is poised to project Pakistan's new strategic alignment. On August 7, a landmark trilateral collective security arrangement—the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement—was signed between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkiye. This pact establishes a framework where an armed attack on one member is treated as an attack on all three, signaling a significant shift in regional security dynamics.

Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that this meeting could serve as a litmus test for US-Pakistan relations under the Trump administration. As Pakistan seeks to bolster its position through new alliances with Middle Eastern and Eurasian powers, the US response to the Indus Waters deadlock and Pakistan's new defense architecture will be crucial for regional stability.

The convergence of water diplomacy and new military alliances makes this UNGA session a defining moment for Pakistan's foreign policy.
Did You Know?: The Indus Waters Treaty, brokered by the World Bank in 1960, has historically been one of the most resilient water-sharing agreements in conflict zones.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. When and where will the Sharif-Trump meeting take place?
The meeting is expected on September 23 during a reception dinner at the Lotte New York Palace Hotel in New York.

2. What is the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement?
It is a trilateral pact between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkiye that mandates collective defense in the event of an attack on any member.