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Behind Closed Doors: What Trump and General Asim Munir’s White House Meeting Really Signals Beyond the Iran-Israel Tensions
Nauman Hanif
Jun 18 2025 11:05 AM
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U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet with Pakistan’s Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, on Wednesday. The meeting is scheduled to take place at 1 PM (Washington, D.C. local time) in the White House’s Cabinet Room during lunch, according to the official schedule released by the U.S. administration. However, no details have been shared about who else will attend the meeting. Notably, media representatives will not be present during the talks. This meeting comes at a critical time, amid heightened tensions between Iran and Israel, following Israel’s June 13 attack on Iran. The conflict between the two countries has escalated significantly, and there is ongoing speculation about whether the United States will take direct military action against Iran. Just a day earlier, Trump cut short his visit to the G7 Summit in Canada and returned to Washington, reportedly due to the escalating Iran-Israel conflict. Fears are growing that the conflict could spread and involve other nations in the region. According to Iranian media, Field Marshal Asim Munir had met with the Iranian Armed Forces Chief of Staff, Mohammad Hossein Bagheri, in late May. General Bagheri was killed in the June 13 Israeli attack, in which he was reportedly targeted.


According to Iranian media, Field Marshal Asim Munir met with Iranian Armed Forces Chief of Staff Mohammad Hossein Bagheri in late May, who was targeted in the Israeli attack on June 13.


Not Just About Iran and Israel: Asim Munir’s Meeting with Trump Sparks Broader Speculation


And perhaps that is why Field Marshal Asim Munir’s meeting with the U.S. President has sparked widespread discussion on social media. However, so far, Pakistan’s military media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), has not released any information about the meeting, nor has it disclosed its agenda. It is important to note that the Pakistani Army Chief has been on a U.S. visit since June 14, and his meeting with the American President was pre-scheduled. Commenting on the meeting between Pakistan’s Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, and U.S. President Donald Trump, analyst Michael Kugelman shared his opinion on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), stating: “This meeting should not be viewed only through the lens of the Iran-Israel conflict.” According to him, there is an ongoing partnership between the U.S. and Pakistan in several areas, including minerals, cryptocurrency, and counterterrorism. Michael Kugelman added: “Trump takes a deep personal interest in these matters, and Asim Munir is influential enough to discuss all of them.” Michael Kugelman also stated that the Kashmir issue is likely to be discussed during the meeting. It is worth recalling that after a four-day standoff between Pakistan and India, U.S. President Donald Trump had repeatedly claimed that he helped broker a ceasefire between the two countries and also offered to mediate on Kashmir. Pakistan welcomed Trump’s offer, but India did not issue any official response to the U.S. President’s proposal. Kugelman further noted that “senior U.S. officials frequently meet with Pakistan’s military leadership,” but in his view, “it is rare for a U.S. President to invite the Pakistani Army Chief to the White House.”


'It is rare for a US president to invite Pakistan's army chief to the White House'


Why the Trump–Asim Munir Meeting Matters Amid U.S.-Iran-Israel Tensions and Counterterrorism Cooperation


He stated that the meeting between Field Marshal Asim Munir and Donald Trump is particularly significant because the Trump administration is currently evaluating its next steps in the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel. It is worth noting that just a week ago, the chief of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), General Michael Kurilla, claimed that during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, after the Abbey Gate bombing at Kabul Airport, the main perpetrator “Jafar” (Sharifullah) was apprehended, and the first call he received was from Pakistan’s Field Marshal Asim Munir. According to General Kurilla, Asim Munir said, “I have captured him (Jafar), and I am ready to hand him over to the United States. Please inform the Secretary of Defense and President Trump.” General Kurilla made these remarks last Tuesday during a House Armed Services Committee hearing on “U.S. Military Strategy and National Security Challenges in the Middle East and Africa”, while responding to questions about the Afghanistan-Pakistan border situation. He described Pakistan as an 'excellent and reliable partner' in counterterrorism, adding that the U.S. and Pakistan have conducted successful operations against ISIS-Khorasan (ISIS-K) through strong intelligence sharing, killing dozens of terrorists and handing over at least five key ISIS-K figures to the U.S.. General Kurilla also told the committee members: “We are seeing that Pakistan, despite receiving limited intelligence from us, is conducting effective operations against ISIS-K with its available resources, and these operations are yielding visible results.” Earlier, according to ISPR, Field Marshal Asim Munir met with overseas Pakistanis in Washington during his visit to the United States.


According to the ISPR, Field Marshal Asim Munir met with overseas Pakistanis in Washington during his visit to the United States.


Overseas Pakistanis Praised by Army Chief for Strengthening National Image and Economy


According to the ISPR statement, overseas Pakistanis praised the performance of the Pakistan Armed Forces against India, while the Army Chief, during his conversation, spoke about the important role overseas Pakistanis can play as ambassadors of the country. The statement added that Field Marshal Asim Munir appreciated the contribution of overseas Pakistanis to Pakistan’s economy and also acknowledged their role in enhancing the country's global reputation. On this occasion, the Army Chief emphasized the importance of connectivity among overseas Pakistanis and said that there is a need to work together on shared challenges and strengthen mutual partnership.


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