US President Donald Trump hosted Pakistan’s military chief, General Asim Munir, for lunch at the White House on June 18. The meeting, praised by Munir as a crucial moment in preventing a nuclear conflict between India and Pakistan, has drawn mixed reactions from experts who question whether this encounter signals a shift in US policy or is simply diplomatic theatrics.
Trump’s Meeting With Pakistan’s Asim Munir
Why In News
- US President Donald Trump hosted Pakistan’s military chief, General Asim Munir, for lunch at the White House on June 18. The meeting, praised by Munir as a crucial moment in preventing a nuclear conflict between India and Pakistan, has drawn mixed reactions from experts who question whether this encounter signals a shift in US policy or is simply diplomatic theatrics.
- Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir on Wednesday met US President Donald Trump at the White House in a rare high-level engagement, coming shortly after Munir publicly suggested that Trump be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
All You Need To Know
- Following the lunch, Trump said, “This man (Munir) was extremely influential in stopping it from the Pakistan side. Modi, from the Indian side, and others. They were going at it, and they’re both nuclear countries. I got it stopped.”
- Earlier the same day, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi clarified and reiterated in a 35-minute call that India did not engage in trade talks related to Operation Sindoor and has never and will never accept third-party mediation on any issue.
- The White House confirmed the meeting, with spokesperson Anna Kelly describing it as a recognition of Munir’s public praise of Trump’s role in de-escalating tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. Experts from India and the US have expressed scepticism about the long-term implications of the meeting.
Trump’s Statement
- “The Trump administration has made it clear that it sees Pakistan as useful both on the terrorist counterterrorism front, and it has expressed some mild interest in mineral resources in Pakistan. Trump is not particularly protocol-driven. He does his own foreign policy, and I think he knows very well what he does. The good thing for India is that Pakistan has very little to offer. There is virtually no American corporate interest in Pakistan, and the country is playing a weakening hand in its relationship with the United States.”
About Meeting
- The lunch meeting was the first time a US president had hosted the powerful head of Pakistan’s army, widely regarded as having sway over the country’s national security policies, at the White House unaccompanied by senior Pakistani civilian officials.
- It also came amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran with Mr Trump exploring Washington’s possible involvement. Islamabad is known for its close ties with Tehran.
- The US President told reporters he thanked Mr Munir for ending the war with India last month, for which he also praised Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who he spoke to on Wednesday. While details of the conversation were not immediately available, the meeting drew attention for its rarity – it is uncommon for a US president to host a foreign military chief for lunch.
- Historically, similar receptions have been extended only to Pakistani leaders like Ayub Khan, Zia ul-Haq, and Pervez Musharraf, who held both military and presidential roles.
- The luncheon also comes at a time when Islamabad’s longstanding ties with Tehran may add complexity to regional diplomacy.
- In However, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri clarified that the ceasefire was achieved through direct talks between Indian and Pakistani militaries, not through U.S. mediation. Misri said Modi conveyed this to Trump during their meeting late on Tuesday.
- General Munir is the first Pakistani military leader to meet a sitting U.S. President since General Pervez Musharraf met President George W. Bush in 2001 while serving as Pakistan’s military ruler.
- Trump-Munir meeting also follows speculation about Pakistan’s possible involvement in the Iran-Israel conflict, with some reports suggesting that Pakistan might support Iran.
- Addressing a public gathering in Washington, DC, General Munir reaffirmed Pakistan’s “clear and strong” support for Iran, while also voicing backing for U.S. efforts to de-escalate tensions in the region.
- According to Dawn, one of the key outcomes of Munir’s visit has been the strengthening of U.S.- Pakistan counterterrorism cooperation, especially in relation to the Islamic State Khorasan (IS-K) group.
- Munir’s U.S. visit was also marked by protests from overseas Pakistanis. Outside an event at a Washington hotel, demonstrators chanted slogans such as “Pakistanio ke Qatil” and “Islamabad ke Qatil” as Munir arrived.
- The protest video, shared by Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on X, showed a screen displaying messages like “Mass Murderer Asim Munir,” “Democracy dies .. when guns speak,” and “Asim Munir, your time is up. Pakistan will rise.”
