By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: President Donald Trump has no plans to visit Pakistan in mid-September, a White House official confirmed on Thursday, dismissing reports from Pakistani media that had suggested such a trip was imminent.
The reports had sparked speculation about a potential South Asia tour, but the White House firmly stated that no visit to Pakistan is on the president’s schedule at this time.
Two Pakistani news channels, Geo and ARY, reported earlier on Thursday that Trump was expected to arrive in Islamabad around September 18, citing unnamed sources. The news quickly gained traction, given the rarity of US presidential visits to Pakistan and the possibility of a broader regional itinerary. However, both outlets later retracted their stories, adding to the confusion surrounding Trump’s plans.
The retracted reports from Geo and ARY left more questions than answers, with no explanation provided for the initial claims or their subsequent withdrawal.
“A trip to Pakistan has not been scheduled at this time,” the White House said In response to media inquiries. The statement put an end to the rumors, at least for now.
“We have nothing to announce,” a US Embassy spokesperson in Islamabad told Reuters. Pakistan’s Foreign Office also distanced itself from the speculation, with spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said: “We have no information about this matter.”
Trump’s confirmed travel plans include a trip to the United Kingdom from September 17 to 19, where he will meet members of the royal family and attend events hosted by Buckingham Palace, according to a statement released by the palace on Monday. Britain’s King Charles will host Trump for what marks his second state visit to the country as president, an unprecedented occurrence.
Meanwhile, Indian media have reported that Trump may also stop in New Delhi in September, though the White House has not confirmed specific dates for such a visit.
The flurry of reports about a possible Pakistan trip had raised eyebrows, as it would have marked Trump’s first visit to the country as president and the first by a US president since George W. Bush traveled to Islamabad in 2006. That visit, nearly two decades ago, came at a time of heightened US-Pakistan cooperation following the 9/11 attacks.
Recent developments suggest a warming in US-Pakistan relations, which may have fueled the initial speculation. Last month, Trump hosted Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, at the White House in an unprecedented lunch meeting, a gesture seen as a significant boost to ties between the two nations. The rare encounter underscored a shift in engagement, though it did not signal any immediate plans for a presidential visit.
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