Islamabad, Pakistan – In a landmark moment for US-Pakistan ties, Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, held a rare one-on-one meeting with United States President Donald Trump at the White House this week — signaling a dramatic thaw in relations between the two countries.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the meeting — initially scheduled for one hour — extended over two hours, beginning with a Cabinet Room lunch and continuing into the Oval Office. ISPR stated that Munir expressed “deep appreciation” for Trump’s role in facilitating a ceasefire between Pakistan and India following a brief conflict in May. Trump, in turn, acknowledged Pakistan’s cooperation in counterterrorism.
While the White House issued no official readout, Trump briefly addressed reporters afterward, calling the meeting “an honour.” The private nature of the talks, without media presence or photo ops, sparked speculation about the sensitive nature of discussions — especially with rising tensions between Israel and Iran and Pakistan’s growing ties with China.
A Reset Amid Geopolitical Complexity
Pakistan’s military noted that Munir and Trump explored cooperation in sectors such as economic development, AI, cryptocurrency, energy, and emerging technologies. However, ISPR confirmed that both leaders also held “detailed discussions” on the escalating Iran-Israel conflict, with an emphasis on de-escalation.
Accompanying Munir was Lieutenant General Asim Malik, Pakistan’s National Security Adviser and Director General of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). On the US side, Trump was joined by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.
Later that evening, Munir addressed an exclusive dinner hosted by the Pakistani embassy in Washington, attended by over 30 US policy figures. Attendees described Munir’s tone as “upbeat” and his private remarks indicated that Pakistan sees Trump’s return as a chance to reset a relationship that had reached historic lows under President Biden.
One guest quoted Munir as saying: “The conversation [with Trump] was fantastic and could not have gone any better.”
Challenges: Iran and China
While the meeting signals a positive pivot, experts warn that Pakistan faces a delicate diplomatic balancing act — navigating its longstanding ties with both Iran and China, two nations currently locked in complex relationships with the US.
“The Iran crisis is already shaping the context of this reset,” said Marvin Weinbaum, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute. “Trump may seek Pakistan’s role either in containing or mediating future developments, which will test Islamabad’s neutrality.”
Pakistan recently condemned Israel’s attacks on Iranian territory and reaffirmed Tehran’s right to self-defence. Munir and PM Shehbaz Sharif had visited Iran just weeks before the Israeli strikes, where they met with top Iranian military leadership, including Major General Mohammad Bagheri, who was later killed in an Israeli airstrike.
Pakistan’s significant Shia population (15–20%), shared border with Iran, and history of sectarian volatility all compel it to tread carefully.
“Instability in Iran isn’t in Pakistan’s interest — politically, economically or demographically,” noted Muhammad Faisal, a South Asia security expert at the University of Technology Sydney. “But neither is overt alignment with the US in any military confrontation.”
China: Pakistan’s Strategic Mainstay
Pakistan’s deepening partnership with China, particularly through the $62 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), is another concern for Washington. Beijing is now Pakistan’s primary supplier of weapons and has become integral to the country’s infrastructure and defence.
“Balancing US expectations while maintaining strategic proximity to China will test Islamabad’s policy of ‘no-camp politics’,” Faisal said.
Some experts believe this geopolitical balancing act gives Pakistan leverage — as both Washington and Beijing court Islamabad for strategic gains.
“It gives Islamabad considerable diplomatic space to expand cooperation with both Beijing and Washington,” Faisal added.
Opportunity, But Not Friendship
Despite the warm optics, observers caution that the relationship remains transactional.
“This is a thaw, not a friendship,” said Sahar Khan, a Washington-based security analyst. “Trump is unpredictable. Any agreement Pakistan reaches must be realistic and on its terms — not driven by American expectations on Iran or India.”
“The message from Munir is clear: stop viewing Pakistan through the lens of India, China, or Afghanistan. Understand Pakistan on its own strategic merits.”
According to Elizabeth Threlkeld, director of the South Asia Program at the Stimson Center, Munir’s visit marks a “significant upswing” in bilateral relations.
“Given Trump’s personal style, this was a golden opportunity for Munir to build rapport. But how durable it is, especially amid US-China tensions and Middle East instability, remains to be seen.”