Washington (TDI): In an unexpected twist in South Asian diplomacy, US President Donald Trump is set to welcome Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, for a private lunch at the White House on Wednesday. The meeting, listed on the president’s official schedule, will take place in the Cabinet Room and is closed to media coverage.
The development has been met with enthusiasm in Islamabad, where it is being hailed as a diplomatic win, especially given the recent optics surrounding India-US ties.
Earlier this month, an Indian delegation met US Vice President JD Vance, a visit that Indian media touted as a symbol of its rising stature. At the time, Pakistan’s apparent lack of similar access drew criticism at home. Now, Munir’s invitation to the White House is being portrayed by Pakistani officials as a direct rebuttal to that narrative, according to Dawn.com.
This moment comes at a tense time in the region. The aftermath of last month’s air skirmish between India and Pakistan, which pushed the subcontinent dangerously close to nuclear brinkmanship, continues to shape diplomatic messaging from both sides. Army Chief’s five-day official visit to the US is being closely watched in this context.
Read More: General Asim Munir Invited to US Army Day, Sparking Indian Outrage
Just last month, he was promoted to Field Marshal, Pakistan’s first five-star general since Ayub Khan in 1959. His visit to Washington has made headlines both for its timing and for his pointed messaging.
Addressing members of the Pakistani-American community in Washington on Monday evening, he strongly denied Indian allegations that Pakistan orchestrated the recent Pahalgam terrorist attack, calling the accusation a “fabricated pretext” for cross-border escalation. He warned that India was attempting to set a “dangerous precedent” of violating international boundaries under the guise of retaliation.
The event, held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Georgetown, drew a sizeable crowd of supporters who showered the army chief with rose petals and chanted slogans in his praise.
Army Chief also touched on the broader regional crisis, reiterating Pakistan’s solidarity with Iran in its war with Israel while simultaneously supporting US-led efforts to defuse tensions.
Read More: Field Marshal Asim Munir Hosts Dinner for Political & Military Leadership
A major focus of his trip has been enhancing security cooperation with the United States, particularly in the fight against the Islamic State Khorasan (IS-K). US Central Command (CENTCOM) chief General Michael Kurilla offered strong praise for Pakistan’s counterterrorism efforts during congressional testimony on Tuesday.
“Pakistan has been a phenomenal partner in our shared battle against IS-K,” Gen. Kurilla told the House Armed Services Committee. He specifically highlighted Islamabad’s border operations, conducted with US intelligence support that have neutralized dozens of militants and led to the capture of several high-value IS-K figures.
Farkhund Yousafzai is an Associate Editor at The Diplomatic Insight.
