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Arab News
30 minutes ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Pakistan army chief calls for dialogue, diplomacy to resolve regional conflicts
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's army chief advocated for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve regional conflicts in his interaction with American policy experts, analysts, scholars and representatives of foreign media outlets, the military's media wing said on Friday amid Islamabad's simmering tensions with New Delhi. Munir is on a solo trip to the US, where he met President Donald Trump for lunch on Wednesday in an unprecedented White House meeting. Trump told reporters afterward that the two had discussed the ongoing Iran-Israel crisis, and that the main reason he wanted to meet Munir was to thank him for not pursuing war with India last month. Pakistan and India remained engaged in a military confrontation for four days last month before Washington brokered a ceasefire between the two on May 10. Pakistan has since then sent delegations to various capitals around the world, urging countries to persuade India to resolve bilateral issues with Islamabad via dialogue and diplomacy. 'The Army Chief also provided a detailed exposition of Pakistan's balanced approach to regional and global conflicts, advocating for dialogue, diplomacy, and adherence to international law,' the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military's media wing, said. 'He reaffirmed that Pakistan continues to play a responsible and proactive role in mitigating regional tensions and promoting cooperative security frameworks.' Munir also spoke about Pakistan's recent conflict with India, elaborating on Pakistan's perspective on 'terrorism.' Without naming anyone in particular, the Pakistan army chief spoke about the influence of regional actors in sponsoring and perpetuating 'terrorism' as a tool of hybrid warfare. 'The COAS emphasized that Pakistan has been on the front lines of the global war against terrorism, having rendered immense sacrifices— both human and economic— in pursuit of a safer and more secure world,' the statement said. Pakistan denies India's allegations it supports militant attacks in the part of disputed Kashmir that New Delhi governs. After the April 22 attack in Pahalgam, a tourist resort in Indian-administered Kashmir, tensions between the two countries surged as New Delhi blamed Islamabad for being involved. Pakistan denied the allegations and called for an impartial, international probe into the incident. The Pakistan army chief spoke about his country's untapped potential in information technology, agriculture and its underexploited reserves in the mining and mineral sectors. Munir invited international partners to explore collaborative opportunities in these sectors to unlock 'shared prosperity,' the ISPR said. The discussion between Munir and the participants also involved an evaluation of the long-standing Pakistan–US partnership, the military's media wing said. 'The COAS [chief of army staff] underlined the historical convergences between the two nations, particularly in areas such as counterterrorism, regional security, and economic development,' the ISPR said. 'He underscored the immense potential for a broader, multidimensional relationship built upon mutual respect, shared strategic interests, and economic interdependence.' The ISPR said the interaction was marked by mutual understanding and was widely regarded as a 'positive step' toward enhancing strategic dialogue between the two countries. Pakistan's military plays a key role in shaping the country's foreign policy, and Munir's high-profile White House invitation is being seen as part of Washington's broader effort to recalibrate ties with Islamabad, a vital but often difficult ally for the US in South Asia. Under Trump, Islamabad and Washington both have appeared eager to rebuild military and economic cooperation after years of strained ties, largely over counter-terrorism disagreements.
Al Jazeera
an hour ago
- Business
- Al Jazeera
Amid US-Pakistan thaw, two key challenges: Iran and China
Islamabad, Pakistan – Pakistan's army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, has held an unprecedented one-on-one meeting with United States President Donald Trump at the White House, where the two leaders spoke for more than two hours, according to the Pakistani military. In a statement issued on Thursday by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Pakistani military's media wing, the meeting, originally scheduled for one hour, was held in the Cabinet Room over lunch and then continued in the Oval Office. After Wednesday's meeting, the ISPR said, Munir expressed 'deep appreciation' for Trump's efforts in facilitating a ceasefire between India and Pakistan after a four-day conflict in May between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. According to the ISPR, Trump welcomed Pakistan's cooperation against 'terrorism'. While the White House did not release any statement on the meeting, which was held behind closed doors and without news media photo opportunities, Trump spoke to reporters briefly after his talks with Munir. He thanked the army chief and said he was 'honoured to meet him'. Yet amid the bonhomie and the promise of a sharp uptick in relations after years of tension between Washington and Islamabad, Trump also referred to the ongoing military conflict between Israel and Iran, which the US president has said his country might join. The Pakistanis, Trump said, 'know Iran very well, better than most', adding that they are 'not happy'. For Pakistan, analysts said, that comment underscored how the reset in ties with the US that Islamabad desperately seeks will be tested by two key challenges. Iran and the current crisis with Israel will force Pakistan into a diplomatic balancing act, they said. And Islamabad's close relations with China could similarly pull Pakistan in conflicting directions. According to the ISPR, Munir spoke to Trump about a range of areas where the two nations could strengthen cooperation, including 'economic development, mines and minerals, artificial intelligence, energy, cryptocurrency, and emerging technologies'. But the Pakistani military conceded that the two leaders also held 'detailed discussions' on the escalating tensions between Iran and Israel with both Munir and Trump – according to Islamabad – emphasising the need for a peaceful resolution. Munir was accompanied by Pakistan's national security adviser, Lieutenant General Asim Malik, who also heads the country's premier intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). On the American side, Trump was joined by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the president's top negotiator in the Middle East, Steve Witkoff. Marvin Weinbaum, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute (MEI), said the lack of a media presence during the lunch could be interpreted as suggesting that 'the nature of the conversation was such that neither party wanted photo opportunities'. Weinbaum told Al Jazeera that neither side likely wanted to reveal much about 'what was discussed, though my read is it was perhaps the US wanting to know about Pakistan's role on what follows in Iran during this ongoing situation'. Later on Wednesday evening, Munir attended a dinner hosted by the Pakistani embassy with nearly three dozen figures from think tanks, policy institutions and diplomatic circles. Al Jazeera spoke to several participants, who all requested anonymity to discuss what Munir said at the dinner. One participant said Munir did not divulge specifics from his meeting with Trump but he remarked that the conversation was 'fantastic and could not have gone any better'. Munir added, according to this person, that Pakistan's relations with the previous administration of President Joe Biden had been 'among the worst' historically. Another attendee told Al Jazeera that Munir said the US 'knows what it needs to do regarding Iran' and reiterated that Pakistan's view is that 'every conflict is resolvable through dialogue and diplomacy'. For the moment, experts said, the meeting represents a major gain for Pakistan in its bid to improve ties with the US. Pakistan has been a close US ally since gaining independence in 1947. They worked closely together in Afghanistan after the Soviet invasion in 1979 and then again after the US invasion of Afghanistan following the 9/11 attacks. While the US has provided more than $30bn in aid in the last two decades to Pakistan, it has repeatedly accused Islamabad of 'duplicity' and of not being a reliable security partner. Pakistan, in turn, has argued that Washington constantly demands it 'do more' without fully acknowledging the losses and instability Pakistan has suffered due to regional violence. Elizabeth Threlkeld, director of the South Asia Program at the Stimson Center in Washington, DC, said Munir's visit marks a 'significant upswing' in US-Pakistan ties under the Trump administration. 'Given President Trump's central role in shaping foreign policy and his preference for personal relationships, this visit has allowed Field Marshal Munir to solidify a rapport built during the recent crisis,' she told Al Jazeera. Sahar Khan, a Washington, DC-based security policy expert, said that while the meeting was significant, it doesn't mean the two countries are 'now friends'. However, it does indicate a 'thaw in the relationship'. She added that although Trump is unpredictable, Pakistan should consider striking a deal with him to prevent unrealistic demands regarding regional issues. 'For now, Munir's message to the Trump administration is, take the time to understand Pakistan and stop viewing it through the lens of India, China or Afghanistan,' she said. Making that message stick, though, won't be easy, analysts said. China remains Pakistan's most critical partner, with whom it enjoys deep economic, strategic and military ties. But simultaneously, over the past three decades, Beijing's rise as a global superpower has made it Washington's principal rival. Muhammad Faisal, a South Asia security researcher and China expert at the University of Technology in Sydney, said managing ties with both powers will test Islamabad's commitment to a policy of 'no-camp politics'. China has invested $62bn in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a large infrastructure project connecting western China to the Arabian Sea via Pakistan. On the military front, Pakistan procures more than 80 percent of its weaponry from China, and some of those products, particularly Chinese jets and missiles, showcased their worth in the recent conflict with India. 'In the long run, both [China and the US] are crucial for Pakistan in their own right,' Faisal told Al Jazeera. And while the US and China might each want Islamabad on their side, the fact that Pakistan is sought after by both has its own advantage. It 'gives Islamabad considerable diplomatic space to expand cooperation with both Beijing and Washington', he said. Iran, currently under an intense Israeli assault that has targeted key infrastructure and senior military and nuclear figures, presents another sensitive challenge for Pakistan. Analysts argued that Pakistan's proximity and ties to Tehran position it as a potential mediator between the US and Iran. 'It is in Pakistan's interest to play a mediating role. It cannot afford another adversary on its western border, given its internal challenges,' Khan said. Last month, Munir travelled to Iran along with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. During the visit, he met Major General Mohammad Bagheri, chief of General Staff of the Iranian military. In the first wave of strikes by Israel on Friday, Bagheri was one of the several military officials who were killed. Since the Israeli strikes began, Pakistan has strongly defended Iran's right to self-defence, describing the Israeli strikes as violations of Iran's territorial sovereignty and calling them 'blatant provocations'. Home to nearly 250 million people, Pakistan has a significant Shia minority – between 15 percent and 20 percent of the population – who look to Iran for religious leadership. Faisal noted that these demographic and geographic realities would constrain Pakistan's public support for any US military intervention. 'Islamabad can continue to call for diplomacy and cessation of hostilities to contain the conflict. As a neighbour, instability in Iran isn't in Pakistan's interest,' he said. At the same time, Faisal added, 'a spike in sectarian tensions [in Pakistan] can test internal security. Thus, Islamabad will be wary of pro-American public posturing.'
Express Tribune
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Trump conveyed Pakistan's concerns over Iran-Israel war
A day after the landmark meeting between US President Donald Trump and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir at the White House, Pakistan on Thursday reiterated its opposition to a military solution and emphasised diplomacy as the preferred way to resolve the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran. At his weekly news briefing, Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan stated that the Pakistani delegation, led by the field marshal, likely conveyed Islamabad's concerns and stance on the escalating conflict during the meeting. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) also released a statement confirming a "detailed exchange" between the two sides on the prevailing tensions in the Middle East, particularly the Israel-Iran situation. Both leaders reportedly stressed the need for a peaceful resolution through dialogue. Responding to a question on President Trump's remark that "Pakistan is not happy with the situation", the spokesperson said the field marshal must have clearly communicated Pakistan's position and concerns during the high-level discussions "Pakistan's authoritative position is conveyed in the foreign ministry's statement, Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar's, statement in the Senate. So, you put two together, you can understand what must have been conveyed by our side, our concerns," the spokesperson explained. He, however, would not say any role was being envisaged for Pakistan in the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. "But what we can say is, we condemn what Israel is doing in Iran. It is in violation of all rules of civilized behavior, interstate relation, international law and international humanitarian law. This is very clear." "We prefer and are open to support any diplomatic effort which can lead to the de-escalation and restoration of peace," he further said. Sources said the Trump administration was told that diplomacy was the only way forward and any other means to resolve the conflict would have far reaching implications. Trump and his team were briefed by the Pakistani side about the likely implications, which prompted the US president to tell reporters later that Pakistan knew more about Iran than many others. Meanwhile, the military's media wing on Thursday provided more details about the meeting at the White House and what transpired in over two-hour long exchange with Trump. The high-level engagement was scheduled at the Cabinet Room over Luncheon followed by a visit to the Oval Office. President Trump was accompanied by Secretary of State Senator Marco Rubio, and Mr Steve Witkoff, the US Special Representative for Middle Eastern Affairs. Field Marshal Asim Munir was joined in by Pakistan's National Security Adviser. During the meeting, the Chief of Army Staff conveyed the deep appreciation of the government and the people of Pakistan for President Trump's constructive and result-oriented role in facilitating a ceasefire between Pakistan and India in the recent regional crisis. The COAS acknowledged President Trump's statesmanship and his ability to comprehend and address the multifaceted challenges faced by the global community. President Trump, in turn, lauded Pakistan's ongoing efforts for regional peace and stability, and appreciated the robust counter-terrorism cooperation between the two states. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to continued collaboration in the field of counter-terrorism. Discussions also encompassed avenues for expanding bilateral cooperation in multiple domains including trade, economic development, mines and minerals, artificial intelligence, energy, cryptocurrency, and emerging technologies. President Trump expressed keen interest in forging a mutually beneficial trade partnership with Pakistan based on long-term strategic convergence and shared interests. President Trump commended Field Marshal Asim Munir's leadership and decisiveness during a period of complex regional dynamics. In a gesture reflecting the warmth of bilateral ties, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir extended an invitation to President Trump, on behalf of the government of Pakistan, to undertake an official visit to Pakistan at a mutually convenient date. Although initially scheduled for one hour, the meeting extended for over two hours, underscoring the depth and cordiality of the dialogue. "The engagement marks a significant moment in the ongoing efforts to reinforce the longstanding partnership between Pakistan and the United States, built upon shared objectives of peace, stability, and prosperity," said ISPR. Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and US President Donald Trump discussed trade, economic development, and cryptocurrency during their meeting at the White House on Wednesday, the army said. "President Trump expressed keen interest in forging a mutually beneficial trade partnership with Pakistan based on long-term strategic convergence and shared interests," the army said in a statement on Thursday. (With additional input from Reuters)
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Business Standard
11 hours ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Trump expressed keen interest in trade partnership with Pakistan: Pak Army
US President Donald Trump has expressed "keen interest" in developing a "mutually beneficial" trade partnership with Pakistan based on long-term strategic convergence and shared interests, the army here said on Thursday. In a statement after a meeting between Trump and Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir at the White House Wednesday, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) - the media wing of the Pakistan Army - said they also discussed joint counterterrorism efforts. During the high-level engagement, the discussions also encompassed avenues for expanding bilateral cooperation in multiple domains, including trade, economic development, mines and minerals, artificial intelligence, energy, cryptocurrency, and emerging technologies, the ISPR said. "President Trump expressed keen interest in forging a mutually beneficial trade partnership with Pakistan based on long-term strategic convergence and shared interests," said the statement. In the first formal reaction by the Pakistan government, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Thursday said the meeting between Army Chief Munir and President Trump helped to highlight the Pak-India conflict. In a post on X, Asif said the meeting is a milestone in Pak-US relations because this is the first time that a US President has invited and met a Pakistani Army Chief. Describing the Trump-Munir meeting as the most important turning point in the 78-year history of relations, Asif said the development is the success of the current hybrid model of governance, involving the elected government and the army. His comments seem to be a departure from the past when political parties demanded non-interference of the army in political affairs. The Chief of Army Staff conveyed the deep appreciation of the Government and people of Pakistan for President Trump's constructive and result-oriented role in facilitating a ceasefire between Pakistan and India in the recent regional crisis, the ISPR said. He acknowledged President Trump's statesmanship and his ability to comprehend and address the multifaceted challenges faced by the global community, the statement added. President Trump, in turn, lauded Pakistan's ongoing efforts for regional peace and stability, and appreciated the robust counter-terrorism cooperation between the two states, the ISPR said. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to continued collaboration in the field of counter-terrorism, it added. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US Special Representative for the Middle East Steve Witkoff accompanied Trump. Munir was joined by National Security Advisor Lt Gen Asim Malik, who is also the head of the intelligence agency ISI. No senior civilian official from Pakistan was present. A detailed exchange of views also took place on the prevailing tensions between Iran and Israel, with both leaders emphasising the importance of resolution of the conflict, the ISPR said. President Trump commended Munir's leadership and decisiveness during a period of complex regional dynamics, it said. In a "gesture reflecting the warmth of bilateral ties", Munir extended an invitation to President Trump, on behalf of the Government of Pakistan, to undertake an official visit to Pakistan at a mutually convenient date, the statement said. Although initially scheduled for one hour, the meeting was extended for over two hours, underscoring the depth and cordiality of the dialogue, it added. The engagement marks a significant moment in the ongoing efforts to reinforce the longstanding partnership between Pakistan and the United States, built upon shared objectives of peace, stability, and prosperity, according to the statement. Separately, President Trump said it was an honour for him to meet the Chief of Army Staff during a luncheon held at the Cabinet Room in the White House, the first-ever such honour for any Pakistani army chief. It is rare for the US president to host a lunch for an army chief of a foreign country. There have been precedents of Pakistan army chiefs, including Ayub Khan, Zia ul-Haq and Pervez Musharraf, receiving such invites. But they were holding the post of president as well. Speaking to the media after the event, Trump extended his gratitude to Pakistan's military chief for visiting and acknowledged his role in helping stop war with India. I was honoured to meet him (Field Marshal Munir) today, Trump said. I invited him to thank him for not going to war. He deserves appreciation for helping secure the ceasefire. When asked if the talks included the Iran-Israel conflict, Trump said: They (Pakistan) know Iran very well, better than most, and they're not happy about anything. It's not that they're bad with Israel. They know them both, actually, but they know Iran better." According to experts, the meeting was a significant boost for relations between the two countries, which had been under strain for years due to suspicion in the US that Pakistan failed to help it stabilize Afghanistan, which resulted in a hasty withdrawal from the country in 2021. The meeting comes after the recent tension with India and Trump umpteen times took credit for stopping the war for which Pakistan thanked him for his role.
India Today
12 hours ago
- Business
- India Today
Trump expressed keen interest in forging trade ties with Islamabad: Pak Army
US President Donald Trump has expressed "keen interest" in developing a "mutually beneficial" trade partnership with Pakistan based on long-term strategic convergence and shared interests, the army said on a statement after a meeting between Trump and Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir at the White House on Wednesday, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) - the media wing of the Pakistan Army - said they also discussed joint counterterrorism the high-level engagement, the discussions also encompassed avenues for expanding bilateral cooperation in multiple domains, including trade, economic development, mines and minerals, artificial intelligence, energy, cryptocurrency and emerging technologies, the ISPR said. "President Trump expressed keen interest in forging a mutually beneficial trade partnership with Pakistan based on long-term strategic convergence and shared interests," said the the first formal reaction by the Pakistani government, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Thursday said the meeting between Army Chief Munir and President Trump helped to highlight the Pakistan-India a post on X, Asif said the meeting was a milestone in Pakistan-US relations because "this is the first time that a US President has invited and met a Pakistani Army Chief".Describing the Trump-Munir meeting as "the most important turning point in the 78-year history of relations", Asif said the development is the success of the "current hybrid model of governance", involving the elected government and the comments seem to be a departure from the past when political parties demanded non-interference of the army in political Chief of Army Staff "conveyed the deep appreciation of the Government and people of Pakistan for President Trump's constructive and result-oriented role in facilitating a ceasefire between Pakistan and India in the recent regional crisis", the ISPR acknowledged President Trump's statesmanship and his ability to comprehend and address the multifaceted challenges faced by the global community, the statement Trump, in turn, lauded Pakistan's ongoing efforts for regional peace and stability, and appreciated the robust counter-terrorism cooperation between the two states, the ISPR sides reaffirmed their commitment to continued collaboration in the field of counter-terrorism, it of State Marco Rubio and US Special Representative for the Middle East Steve Witkoff accompanied Trump. Munir was joined by National Security Advisor Lt Gen Asim Malik, who is also the head of the intelligence agency ISI. No senior civilian official from Pakistan was present.A detailed exchange of views also took place on the prevailing tensions between Iran and Israel, with both leaders emphasising the importance of the resolution of the conflict, the ISPR Trump commended Munir's leadership and decisiveness during a period of complex regional dynamics, it a "gesture reflecting the warmth of bilateral ties", Munir extended an invitation to President Trump, on behalf of the Government of Pakistan, to undertake an official visit to Pakistan at a mutually convenient date, the statement initially scheduled for one hour, the meeting was extended for over two hours, underscoring the depth and cordiality of the dialogue, it added."The engagement marks a significant moment in the ongoing efforts to reinforce the longstanding partnership between Pakistan and the US, built upon shared objectives of peace, stability and prosperity," according to the President Trump said it was an honour for him to meet the Chief of Army Staff during a luncheon held at the Cabinet Room in the White House, the first-ever such honour for any Pakistani army is rare for the US President to host a lunch for an army chief of a foreign country. There have been precedents of Pakistan army chiefs, including Ayub Khan, Zia ul-Haq and Pervez Musharraf, receiving such invites. But they were holding the post of president as to the media after the event, Trump extended his gratitude to Pakistan's military chief for visiting and acknowledged his role in helping stop war with was honoured to meet him (Field Marshal Munir) today," Trump said. "I invited him to thank him for not going to war. He deserves appreciation for helping secure the ceasefire."When asked if the talks included the Iran-Israel conflict, Trump said, "They (Pakistan) know Iran very well, better than most, and they're not happy about anything. It's not that they're bad with Israel. They know them both, actually, but they know Iran better."According to experts, the meeting was a significant boost for relations between the two countries, which had been under strain for years due to suspicion in the US that Pakistan had failed to help it stabilise Afghanistan, which resulted in a hasty withdrawal from the country in meeting comes after the recent tension with India and Trump umpteen times took credit for stopping the conflict, for which Pakistan thanked him for his has been maintaining that the Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan reached an understanding to stop all firings and military actions on land, air and sea with immediate effect on May Watch IN THIS STORY#India-Pakistan#Pakistan#Donald Trump
