US President Donald Trump hosted Pakistan’s army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir at the White House in an unprecedented meeting following last month’s conflict between the nuclear-armed South Asian foes.
The Wednesday lunch meeting was the first time a US president had hosted the head of Pakistan’s army, widely regarded as the most powerful figure in the country, at the White House unaccompanied by senior Pakistani civilian officials.
Trump said he was honoured to meet Asim and that they had discussed Iran, which he said Pakistan knew better than most.
Trump told reporters he had thanked Asim for ending the war with India, for which he also praised Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who he spoke to on Tuesday night.
“Two very smart people decided not to keep going with that war; that could have been a nuclear war,” Trump told reporters.
Asim had been expected to press Trump not to enter Israel’s war with Iran and seek a ceasefire, Pakistani officials and experts said. A section of Pakistan’s embassy in Washington represents Iran’s interests in the United States, as Teheran does not have diplomatic relations with the United States.
Pakistan has condemned Israel’s airstrikes against Iran, saying they violate international law and threaten regional stability.
The meeting represented a major boost in US-Pakistan ties, which had largely languished under Trump and his predecessor Joe Biden, as both courted India as part of efforts to push back against China.
Asked earlier what he wanted to achieve from meeting Asim, Trump told reporters: “Well, I stopped a war ... I love Pakistan. I think Modi is a fantastic man. I spoke to him last night. We’re going to make a trade deal with Modi of India.
“But I stopped the war between Pakistan and India. This man was extremely influential in stopping it from the Pakistan side, Modi from the India side and others,” he said. — Reuters
