US President Donald Trump will hold a lunch meeting with Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir on Wednesday, says the White House schedule released earlier today. The senior-level interaction takes place at a delicate moment for both South Asia and West Asia, with tensions rising between India and Pakistan on one hand and Israel and Iran on the other. While no official statement has been released about the agenda of the Trump-Munir meeting, sources suggest regional security, counter-terrorism cooperation, and evolving dynamics with Iran may be key points of discussion.
Pakistan Army Head Asim Munir Met with Protests in US
As per The Dawn, General Munir reached Washington on Sunday on a five-day visit to strengthen strategic and defense ties between Islamabad and Washington. But he skipped the military parade and remained low-key during his interactions, possibly because of the harsh questioning and demonstrations. Pakistani diaspora and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters gathered outside the venue, raising slogans such as “Pakistanio ke Qatil” (Murderer of Pakistanis) and “Islamabad ke Qatil” (Murderer of Islamabad). PTI digital campaign vans were also spotted near Capitol Hill, displaying videos and posters labeling the army chief as the “Butcher of Islamabad.” Videos posted on social media sites featured protesters chanting slogans such as “shame on you, mass murderer” and “shame on you, dictator”, attacking the Pakistani armed forces leadership’s suspected role in clamping down on civil liberties in Pakistan.
There had been speculation that General Munir was in Washington for the publicised Trump-hosted military parade commemorating the 250th anniversary of America’s Armed Forces. The White House denied such reports. “This is false. No foreign military leaders were invited,” a White House spokesperson informed ANI, ending speculation of Munir’s presence. Even with this denial, pro-Munir billboards suddenly appeared in New York City’s Times Square at the same time, stoking more intrigue and provoking criticism from PTI activists who alleged that the Pakistan Army was conducting a PR campaign in the West. The episode is widely considered to be a huge embarrassment for the Pakistan Army, which has already been in the line of fire over its involvement in country-level political developments.
In a parallel development, Donald Trump has been hardening his line against Iran as tensions escalate with Israel. In a series of late-night posts on Truth Social, Trump asserted that the US now has “complete and total control of the skies over Iran” and made a pointed warning to Tehran that American patience is “wearing thin.” He concluded his message with a bold phrase, “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!” Trump’s posts follow a series of Israeli airstrikes on Iranian nuclear and military facilities, which prompted retaliatory attacks from Tehran. In his messages, Trump emphasized that Iran “cannot be allowed to possess nuclear weapons”, reiterating US commitment to Israel’s security.
In a shocking turn, General Asim Munir, while addressing Washington DC in a speech, showed Iran Pakistan’s support, declaring that Pakistan is with Iran and insisting on resolving the conflict peacefully. The statement has stirred controversy, especially since Washington is taking a hard line against Tehran. This statement can complicate the optics of his encounter with Trump, particularly at a time when US-Iran tensions are reaching their height and Pakistan’s strategic location is under international spotlight.
