WASHINGTON, D.C. – United States President Donald Trump will host Pakistan’s Field Marshal Asim Munir for a high-level lunch meeting today at the White House, as confirmed by security sources. The meeting, scheduled for 10:00 PM Pakistan Standard Time, will take place in the Cabinet Room, as per the president’s official daily agenda.
The engagement is part of the Pakistani army chief’s ongoing official visit to the United States, during which he also met with Pakistani diaspora members in Washington D.C., lauding their contributions to Pakistan’s economy and global standing, according to an ISPR statement.
Strategic Dialogue Amid Ceasefire Diplomacy
Field Marshal Munir’s visit comes on the heels of the US-brokered ceasefire between Pakistan and India, following the recent 87-hour military confrontation triggered by the Pahalgam attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir — for which India blamed Pakistan without offering concrete evidence.
The armed exchange saw six Indian fighter jets, including three Rafales, shot down by Pakistan during Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos, with over 150 casualties, including 40 civilians and 113 military personnel reported on the Pakistani side.
President Trump’s mediation is credited with ending the hostilities on May 10, and he has since offered to mediate the Kashmir dispute, a long-standing point of contention between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
Global Diplomatic Outreach and Counter-Terror Cooperation
Following the ceasefire, Pakistan launched a global diplomatic initiative, with former foreign minister and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari leading a nine-member parliamentary delegation to counter India’s narrative and highlight Pakistan’s position on the international stage.
The backdrop of Munir’s US visit also includes growing instability in the Middle East, amid the escalating Israel-Iran conflict, raising concerns about broader regional security.
Beyond the South Asian tensions, the US-Pakistan partnership in counter-terrorism remains a central theme. Recently, CENTCOM Commander Gen. Michael Kurilla described Pakistan as a “phenomenal partner” in global anti-terror efforts. His remarks came during a congressional hearing, where he praised Pakistan’s operations against Daesh-Khorasan and its role in apprehending a terrorist behind the Abbey Gate bombing during the chaotic 2021 Kabul evacuation.
President Trump also expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s cooperation in combatting transnational terror threats.