Trump to host Pakistani prime minister at White House

President Trump will host the Pakistani prime minister at the White House later this month as the two countries seek to reset their relationship amid efforts to secure peace in South Asia.

The White House announced Wednesday that Prime Minister Imran Khan will visit the capital on July 22. Khan and Trump will discuss strengthening ties “to bring peace, stability, and economic prosperity to a region that has seen far too much conflict.”

The two men will discuss counterterrorism, defense, energy and trade, among other issues, the White House said.{mosads}

The Trump administration announced last year that it would cut $300 million in military aid for Pakistan, asserting that the government in Islamabad had failed to take adequate action against terrorists and militant groups.

Trump himself had criticized Pakistan in early 2018, tweeting that the country’s leaders “have given us nothing but lies & deceit, thinking of our leaders as fools. They give safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help.”

Asked about Pakistan in February, Trump said the two countries had recently “developed a much better relationship.” 

Pakistan serves as a key partner in ongoing peace talks between Afghanistan and the Taliban, which are being brokered by a U.S. envoy.

That envoy — Zalmay Khalilzad — met with Taliban officials this week after a delegation of Afghan citizens and the militant group agreed to a “roadmap for peace.”