Former US President Donald Trump hosted Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, General Asim Munir, at the White House on Wednesday, crediting him with helping prevent a potential war between India and Pakistan.
“The reason I had him here was I wanted to thank him for not going into the war and ending it,” Trump said during the luncheon meeting, referring to recent tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
The high-profile meeting took place as the world closely watches US responses to the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran. However, Trump appeared keen to emphasise South Asia, highlighting what he described as his role in helping de-escalate Indo-Pak tensions in May.
Trump praised both General Munir and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying, “Two very smart people decided not to keep going with the war. Those are two big nuclear powers. I was honoured to meet him today.”
He also mentioned ongoing efforts for trade deals with both India and Pakistan, calling the meeting a step towards regional peace and cooperation.
However, India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri clarified that the recent ceasefire was the result of direct talks between the Indian and Pakistani militaries, with no foreign mediation involved.
The meeting has drawn international attention, especially given that it is rare for a Pakistani military leader to be hosted by a sitting US President. The last such occurrence was in 2001, when General Pervez Musharraf met President George W. Bush as Pakistan’s military ruler.
Michael Kugelman, a South Asia analyst, highlighted the broader significance of the Trump-Munir meeting. “It shouldn’t only be seen through the lens of the Israel-Iran war,” he noted, citing ongoing US-Pakistani engagements on critical minerals, cryptocurrency, counterterrorism, and even Kashmir.
General Munir, during his public address in Washington, expressed Pakistan’s “clear and strong” support for Iran in its conflict with Israel, while simultaneously supporting US de-escalation efforts.
Pakistani daily Dawn reported that one of the major outcomes of Munir’s US visit has been an enhanced counterterrorism partnership with Washington, especially targeting ISIS-K (Islamic State Khorasan).
However, Munir’s US visit was not without controversy. Protests erupted outside a Washington hotel where he was attending an event. Demonstrators, reportedly supporters of former PM Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), accused Munir of human rights violations, shouting slogans such as “Pakistanio ke Qatil” and displaying screens branding him a “Mass Murderer.”
Despite the protests, Trump’s engagement with Munir underscores the importance Washington continues to place on military ties with Pakistan—especially during times of regional instability.
