US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has said the United States shares a “true friendship” with Pakistan’s political and military leadership, naming Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir. Speaking in the context of Washington’s engagement with Islamabad, Hegseth framed the relationship as more than routine diplomacy, emphasizing continuity and trust between the two sides.
Hegseth’s remarks suggest that, despite longstanding regional tensions and periodic disputes over security cooperation, the United States is attempting to sustain a working partnership with Pakistan. By publicly highlighting both the elected head of government and the top military leadership, he signaled that US-Pakistan relations involve multiple channels rather than only civilian-to-civilian communication. The comments also imply that Washington may see value in maintaining direct contacts with Pakistan’s security establishment, which plays a central role in strategic decision-making.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, referenced by Hegseth, is Pakistan’s head of government and a key figure in shaping the country’s domestic policy and external posture. The US defence chief’s choice to mention Sharif indicates that the United States is attentive to the broader political framework in Islamabad and not solely to military matters. In the same breath, the naming of Field Marshal Asim Munir is particularly notable because Munir represents the highest tier of Pakistan’s armed forces leadership, and his inclusion reflects the importance the US attaches to the military-to-military dimension of cooperation.
The use of the phrase “true friendship” can be read as a deliberate attempt to strengthen confidence and reduce uncertainty about US intentions. This kind of language often serves several diplomatic goals at once: it reassures partners, discourages hostile interpretations of policy shifts, and provides a signal that security engagement will continue even amid difficult questions in bilateral relations.
While the statement itself is primarily political and diplomatic in tone, it also reinforces the idea that defence leaders consider their relationship to be strategic and ongoing. Hegseth’s focus on both Sharif and Munir points to the belief that stability in cooperation requires alignment—or at least consistent communication—across Pakistan’s governance and defence pillars.
The timing of such remarks also matters. US policy toward Pakistan has historically fluctuated depending on regional developments, counterterrorism cooperation, and broader geopolitical concerns. In that environment, public statements by senior US officials can serve as markers of the administration’s approach. By highlighting friendship with Pakistan’s leadership, Hegseth appears to be positioning the US as committed to engagement, including through defence diplomacy.
Pakistan’s leadership figures, particularly the prime minister and the chief of the armed forces, regularly interact with international partners on topics such as security, regional stability, and strategic cooperation. By bringing these names into a single statement, Hegseth effectively connected political dialogue with defence engagement, suggesting that the US expects cooperation to be comprehensive.
It remains unclear from the reported remarks alone what specific actions or agreements are behind Hegseth’s characterisation. However, his overarching message is clear: the United States views Pakistan’s leadership—civilian and military—as partners with whom it maintains a relationship grounded in trust. Such framing can influence how both countries approach future negotiations, joint efforts, and crisis management.
Overall, the statement by US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth portrays the US-Pakistan relationship as friendly and durable, explicitly identifying Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir. The emphasis on a “true friendship” indicates an intention to reinforce diplomatic confidence and sustain defence-level ties as part of broader engagement with Pakistan.
Source: Shashank Mattoo
Shashank Mattoo: Breaking: America has a “true friendship” with Pakistan’s PM Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, says US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. #breaking
— @MattooShashank May 1, 2026
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