WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump met Pakistan’s army chief Field Marshall Gen Asim in the White House Cabinet Room and hosted him a luncheon on Wednesday.
Speaking to the media after the meeting at the White House, President Donald Trump said he was honored to meet Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff.
“It was an honor to meet Field Marshal Asim Munir today,” President Trump told reporters. “I invited him here to personally thank him for choosing peace. Pakistan and India are both nuclear powers, and we deeply appreciate that Field Marshal Munir did not take the region toward war.”
The meeting, which took place in the White House Cabinet Room, was followed by a formal luncheon in the Field Marshal’s honor. President Trump confirmed that trade negotiations with Pakistan are underway and expressed optimism about strengthening bilateral ties.
“We are having very good discussions on a trade agreement with Pakistan,” he added.
According to Trump, Field Marshal Munir was invited to Washington specifically for his role in preventing military escalation in South Asia.
In reply to a question, President Trump said, “Well, they (Pakistan) know Iran better than most. They are not happy. It’s not that they’re bad with Israel. They know them both, actually, but they know Iran better….the reason I had him here was that I wanted to thank him for not going into the war. I was honored to meet him.”
Meanwhile, White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said President Trump hostefd Field Marshal Munir after the latter called for nomination of the president for the Nobel Peace Prize for preventing a nuclear war between India and Pakistan, a foreign news agency reported.
Political analyst and former senator Mushahid Hussain Syed weighed in on the meeting, saying: “President Trump wants to ensure that tensions between Pakistan and India do not escalate. I believe the discussions also involved the broader geopolitical situation, especially the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict.”
He further noted, “Trump likely wanted to hear Field Marshal Munir’s strategic perspective on these issues. After India’s recent military setback, U.S. policymakers may now be viewing Pakistan’s leadership through a different, more strategic lens.”
ISPR statement
In a statement, the military’s media wing, ISPR, said Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir met with President of the United States, Donald J. Trump, at the White House. The high-level engagement was scheduled at the Cabinet Room over Luncheon followed by a visit to the Oval Office.
President Trump was accompanied by Secretary of State Senator Marco Rubio, and Mr. Steve Witkoff, the U.S. Special Representative for Middle Eastern Affairs. Field Marshal Asim Munir was joined in by Pakistan’s National Security Advisor.
During the meeting, the Chief of Army Staff conveyed the deep appreciation of the Government and people of Pakistan for President Trump’s constructive and result-oriented role in facilitating a ceasefire between Pakistan and India in the recent regional crisis. The COAS acknowledged President Trump’s statesmanship and his ability to comprehend and address the multifaceted challenges faced by the global community.
President Trump, in turn, lauded Pakistan’s ongoing efforts for regional peace and stability, and appreciated the robust counter-terrorism cooperation between the two states. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to continued collaboration in the field of counter-terrorism.
Discussions also encompassed avenues for expanding bilateral cooperation in multiple domains including trade, economic development, mines and minerals, artificial intelligence, energy, cryptocurrency, and emerging technologies. President Trump expressed keen interest in forging a mutually beneficial trade partnership with Pakistan based on long-term strategic convergence and shared interests.
A detailed exchange of views also took place on the prevailing tensions between Iran and Israel, with both leaders emphasizing the importance of resolution of the conflict.
President Trump commended Field Marshal Asim Munir’s leadership and decisiveness during a period of complex regional dynamics. In a gesture reflecting the warmth of bilateral ties, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir extended an invitation to President Trump, on behalf of the Government of Pakistan, to undertake an official visit to Pakistan at a mutually convenient date.
Although initially scheduled for one hour, the meeting extended for over two hours, underscoring the depth and cordiality of the dialogue.
The engagement marks a significant moment in the ongoing efforts to reinforce the longstanding partnership between Pakistan and the United States, built upon shared objectives of peace, stability, and prosperity.
