Sources in the Foreign Ministry said the news circulating about Trump’s trip was “fake” as the US president is visiting the UK between Sept. 17 and 19.
“We have no information about any such visit. If there is any such thing, the Foreign Ministry will officially announce that,” a senior ministry official told Anadolu on the condition of anonymity.
Read More: Trump calls meeting COAS Munir an honour at White House luncheon
Earlier, Reuters reported, quoting local news channels, that US President Donald Trump is expected to visit Pakistan in September, two local television news channels reported on Thursday, citing sources familiar with the matter.
The two local news channels said that Trump would also visit India after arriving in Islamabad in September.
Foreign office spokesperson said he was not aware of Trump’s expected visit. A US embassy spokesperson in Islamabad told Reuters, “We have nothing to announce,” and said that the White House might be able to provide confirmation on the president’s schedule.
Pakistan’s information ministry didn’t respond to a Reuters request for a comment. If confirmed, the visit would be the first by a US president since nearly two decades ago, when President George W. Bush visited Pakistan in 2006.
According to Anadolu, local News channel, citing unnamed ministry officials, reported that Trump was expected to visit Pakistan on Sept. 18. An international news agency and several media outlets reported the news, quoting the broadcaster.
However, the news channel later withdrew the report and apologized for running an “unconfirmed” story. According to an earlier schedule, the US president is scheduled to pay a state visit to the UK between Sept. 17 and 19.
Also Read: Pakistan and India agree to immediate ceasefire
Relations between the Pakistani government and the Trump administration have strengthened in recent months, following the latter’s active intervention to broker a ceasefire between longtime rivals India and Pakistan after a four-day conflict in May.
The Escalation between Pakistan and India began on April 22, when an attack in Pahalgam killed 26 people. India immediately blamed Pakistan for the incident. However, Pakistan categorically rejected the Indian blame.
In response, India launched missile strikes that hit six cities in Punjab and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), destroying a mosque and killing dozens of civilians, including women, children, and the elderly.
Read: French intelligence official confirms downing of Rafale by Pakistan
In a swift military response, Pakistan’s armed forces shot down Indian warplanes, including three Rafale jets. The confrontation intensified again in the early hours of May 10, when India targeted several Pakistani airbases with missile strikes. In retaliation, Pakistan launched Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, damaging Indian military installations, including missile storage sites, airbases, and other strategic targets.
Last month, Trump also hosted Pakistan’s army chief Gen. Asim Munir at the White House, in an unprecedented diplomatic development.
Donald Trump said it was an honour to meet Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir during a luncheon held at the White House.
Speaking to the media after the event, Trump extended his gratitude to Pakistan’s military chief for visiting and acknowledged the army chief’s role in helping avert further military escalation with India.
“It is an honour for me to meet Asim Munir,” Trump said. “I invited him to thank him for not going to war. He deserves appreciation for helping secure the ceasefire.”
“Pakistan and India are both nuclear powers,” the US president said. “We’re in talks with Pakistan on a trade agreement. The leadership of both nations is truly remarkable.”