WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump is set to host Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, for lunch at the White House today.
The meeting, listed on the president’s official schedule, will take place in the Cabinet Room at 10pm Pakistan Standard Time (PST) and is closed to the press, according to the US president’s public schedule.
The visit also follows last month’s aerial skirmish between India and Pakistan, which raised regional tensions. Field Marshall Munir is on a five-day official trip to the United States.
Recently promoted to five-star rank — Pakistan’s first such elevation since 1959 — COAS has made headlines during his tour.
In a speech to the Pakistani American community in Washington, he urged India to abandon regional dominance and called for engagement “as a civilised nation.”
He rejected Indian allegations linking Pakistan to the Pahalgam attack, calling them a pretext for cross-border strikes. “We would rather embrace martyrdom than accept this dishonour,” he said.
The event, held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Georgetown, drew strong support from the diaspora. Attendees greeted Field Marshal with rose petals and slogans, while Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-aligned protesters outside called for democratic reforms and the release of jailed leaders.
Field Marshal also expressed Pakistan’s support for Iran in its war with Israel, while endorsing US efforts to de-escalate the conflict. “We want this war to end immediately,” he said.
Meanwhile Bilawal Bhutto Zardari hailed meeting between Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir and US President Donald Trump as a “positive step” in improving bilateral ties.
“Today, Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir, will meet with Donald Trump over lunch, a positive step in Pakistan-US relations—especially given the president’s role in mediating a ceasefire,” Bilawal said in a statement.
The meeting comes in the wake of Pakistan’s declared victory in a five-day conflict with India. However, Bilawal criticised New Delhi for what he termed a lack of interest in lasting peace.
“India has regrettably resisted all efforts toward a permanent peace, including US-led diplomacy,” he said.
Bilawal emphasised that Islamabad was not seeking conflict but cautioned against interpreting Pakistan’s restraint as weakness.
“Pakistan neither seeks conflict nor are we desperate for dialogue. But we do recognise that peace is in both nations’ interests. There is no military solution to our disputes,” he added.
He further called out India’s policies on water, Kashmir, and counterterrorism.
“India’s weaponisation of water, repression in Kashmir, and politicisation of terrorism are unsustainable positions. The path forward lies in honest diplomacy – not denial.”
Gen Michael Kurilla, head of US Central Command, had earlier called Pakistan a “phenomenal partner” in the fight against Daesh-Khorasan (Daesh-K).
Kurilla told lawmakers that Pakistani forces, aided by US intelligence, had killed dozens of Daesh-K terrorists and captured several top operatives, including Mohammad Sharifullah, a planner of the 2021 Kabul airport bombing that killed 13 US troops.
Kurilla said Munir called him personally after the arrest, stating, “I’ve caught him — ready to extradite him back to the US.” Sharifullah was subsequently handed over to US authorities.
In remarks to Congress, Kurilla praised Pakistan’s ongoing operations along the Afghan border and said the country continues to play a central role in regional counterterrorism.
Despite facing over 1,000 terror incidents last year, Kurilla said Pakistan “has been a phenomenal partner in the counterterrorism world.”
COAS, during his speech to the diaspora, also praised overseas Pakistanis for their economic contributions and dismissed concerns over brain drain.
