WNAM MONITORING: US President Donald Trump said it was an honour to meet Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir during a luncheon held at the White House on Wednesday.
Speaking to the media after the event, Trump extended his gratitude to Pakistan’s military chief for visiting and acknowledged the army chief’s role in helping avert further military escalation with India.
“It is an honour for me to meet Asim Munir,” Trump said. “I invited him to thank him for not going to war. He deserves appreciation for helping secure the ceasefire.”
“Pakistan and India are both nuclear powers,” the US president said. “We’re in talks with Pakistan on a trade agreement. The leadership of both nations is truly remarkable.”
The luncheon followed recent tensions between Pakistan and India, two nuclear-armed neighbours who have seen a sharp rise in hostilities. Trump noted the gravity of the situation and stressed the importance of dialogue and restraint.
Trump said that Iran came up during his meeting and both discussed the recent Middle East conflict. “They know Iran very well, better than most,” Trump said during a media interaction following their Cabinet Room meeting at the White House, adding, “And they’re not happy about anything.”
The president stated that Pakistan is familiar with both Iran and Israel, but has deeper insights into Iran due to proximity and long-standing regional dynamics.
“It’s not that they’re bad with Israel. They know them both, actually, but they probably know Iran better,” Trump remarked. “He [Asim Munir] agreed with me.”
COAS Munir was 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 Tehran does not have diplomatic relations with the US.
Asked what he wanted to achieve from the meeting, Trump told reporters at the White House: “Well, I stopped a war … I love Pakistan. I think (Indian Prime Minister Narendra) 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 did, referring to Munir. “They were going at it – and they’re both nuclear countries. I got it stopped.”
