Security sources have confirmed that US President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet with Pakistan’s Field Marshal Asim Munir on Wednesday, during the latter’s official visit to the United States.
According to President Trump’s public schedule, the meeting, described as a lunch, is planned for 10 PM Pakistan Standard Time (PST) in the White House Cabinet Room.
This high-level meeting follows Field Marshal Munir’s interactions with overseas Pakistanis in Washington D.C. the previous day. During that meeting, he acknowledged and praised the Pakistani diaspora’s significant contributions to the country’s economy and its global standing through remittances, investments, and achievements in various fields, according to ISPR.
Field Marshal Munir’s visit gains further importance considering the Trump administration’s role in mediating a ceasefire between Pakistan and India following recent armed clashes. These clashes, sparked by the Pahalgam attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, which New Delhi blamed on Islamabad without providing proof, resulted in significant casualties on both sides: 40 civilians and 113 armed forces personnel martyred in Pakistan. The 87-hour conflict involved cross-border strikes from both countries. Pakistan responded to Indian aggression by launching Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos, during which it claimed to have downed six Indian Air Force jets, including three Rafales. The US brokered a ceasefire on May 10, ending the conflict.
In addition to brokering the ceasefire, President Trump has offered to mediate the longstanding Kashmir dispute between Pakistan and India. Following the US-brokered ceasefire, both countries have been actively engaged in diplomatic efforts to present their respective perspectives on the recent clashes. Pakistan, for instance, has dispatched a nine-member parliamentary delegation led by former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardar to various countries to articulate its position on the conflict and challenge India’s narrative on the international stage.
The visit also occurs amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, marked by the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran.
Beyond the Kashmir issue, counter-terrorism cooperation remains a key area of collaboration between Pakistan and the US. General Michael Kurilla, Chief of Central Command (Centcom), recently lauded Pakistan as a “phenomenal partner” in global counter-terrorism efforts. He highlighted Pakistan’s successful operations against Daesh-Khorasan and its ongoing efforts in combating terrorism. These remarks echoed President Trump’s previous commendation for Pakistan’s role in apprehending and handing over a Daesh terrorist responsible for the deadly Abbey Gate bombing in Kabul in 2021, which tragically resulted in the deaths of 13 American service members and approximately 170 Afghans.
