WASHINGTON – Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir’s luncheon with US President Donald Trump at the White House has been hailed as a historic event.
It is the first time a Pakistani Army Chief—neither holding a political office nor operating under martial law—has been officially invited for a one-on-one engagement at the White House.
According to journalist Umar Azhar on microblogging platform X, the meeting was not sudden but the result of months of behind-the-scenes diplomacy led by a small but effective advisory group.
11/ While the meeting is being touted as a new development, sources that this was in the works and kept highly secret until White House released Trump’s official schedule. It remains to be seen if Pakistan’s help is sought in Iran-Israel war, which if it is, could mean new era in…
— Omer Azhar (@OmerAzhar96) June 18, 2025
The talks were kept under strict confidentiality and only made public when the White House formally listed it in the president’s daily schedule.
Analysts suggest this meeting could signal the beginning of a new chapter in U.S.-Pakistan relations, particularly if Pakistan is called upon for assistance amid the escalating Iran-Israel conflict.
