Pakistani officials deny reports of Trump visit on Sept. 18

KARACHI / ISLAMABAD, Pakistan

Pakistani diplomatic sources on Thursday denied media reports that the US President Donald Trump was expected to visit the South Asian nation on Sept. 18.

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.

Earlier, local broadcaster Geo News, 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.

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.

Last month, Trump also hosted Pakistan's army chief Gen. Asim Munir at the White House, in an unprecedented diplomatic development.

George W. Bush was the last US president to visit Pakistan in 2006.