Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir to Visit US Two Months After Lunch with Trump: Report

Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir is set to visit the United States this week, marking his second trip in two months following recent military skirmishes with India and amid strained India-US ties over trade tariffs, Pakistani daily Dawn reported, citing sources.

The visit is reportedly a reciprocal one to attend the farewell of US Central Command chief General Michael Kurilla in Tampa, Florida. Kurilla had visited Pakistan last month, where he received the Nishan-e-Imtiaz, one of the country’s highest honours.

Field Marshal Munir previously met US President Donald Trump at a private White House lunch on June 18, during which Trump claimed credit for brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, praising Munir for his role. India, however, has maintained that its foreign policy decisions — including the ceasefire — are free from external influence.

India-US relations have since soured further after Trump imposed tariffs of up to 50% on Indian goods as “penalty” for New Delhi’s trade with Russia, a move India has termed “unfair and unjustified.”

The Pakistan Army has dismissed speculation that Munir could replace Asif Ali Zardari as the country’s president.

General Kurilla, whose farewell Munir will attend, recently told the US Congress Armed Services Committee that the US must maintain ties with both India and Pakistan to counter terrorism, calling Pakistan a “phenomenal partner” in the effort. His remarks came in June, a month after India struck terror bases inside Pakistan and in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in response to the April Pahalgam massacre.

Munir — seen as Pakistan’s de facto ruler due to the army’s political clout — was elevated from General to Field Marshal after Islamabad claimed military gains in the May clashes with India.