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First Post
15 hours ago
- Politics
- First Post
Who is Sajid Tarar, the man who facilitated the Donald Trump-Asim Munir lunch?
US President Donald Trump hosted Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir for a lunch meeting at the White House on Wednesday (June 18). This was the first time a US president had welcomed the powerful head of Pakistan's military. The meeting was reportedly arranged by Sajid Tarar, a Pakistani-American businessman based in the Baltimore-Washington area, who founded the group 'American Muslims for Trump' read more He is a Pakistani-American businessman living in the Baltimore-Washington area. Reuters/File Photo US President Donald Trump welcomed Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir for a lunch meeting at the White House on Wednesday. This was the first time a US president had hosted the influential head of Pakistan's army, who is seen as playing a major role in shaping the country's national security decisions. The meeting was arranged by Sajid Tarar, a Pakistani-American businessman, according to reports. Read Israel-Iran conflict day 8 live updates here. It came at a tense moment in Washington, with Trump expected to decide in the next two weeks whether the US will join the Israel-Iran conflict. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD So, who is Sajid Tarar? And what happened during the Trump-Munir meeting? Let's take a look at these details: Who is Sajid Tarar? He is a Pakistani-American businessman living in the Baltimore-Washington area. He was a regular presence at the Republican National Conventions and is known for his strong links to the Make America Great Again (Maga) movement. Tarar also founded the group 'American Muslims for Trump'. His closeness to Donald Trump's circle was visible when his son got a role at the US State Department during Trump's first term. The meeting was reportedly arranged by Sajid Tarar. Reuters/File Photo Outside politics, Tarar heads the nonprofit Centre for Social Change in Baltimore, Maryland. He has served on finance teams for state governors and has held senior positions in several business and investment groups. He came into the spotlight recently for reportedly arranging the lunch meeting between Trump and Asim Munir. Beyond his work with Pakistani-Americans, Tarar has also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and backed the idea of peaceful, cooperative ties between India and Pakistan, a rare stand in a divided diaspora. He moved to the US in the 1990s, became a citizen, and has since been a prominent Republican voice among Muslim Americans. ALSO READ | What is Iran's Arak heavy water reactor 'created to build nukes' that Israel struck? Donald Trump-Asim Munir luncheon meeting During the lunch meeting on Wednesday, Trump praised Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir for his 'role' in helping prevent further escalation between India and Pakistan. Trump said, 'Reason I had him here was I wanted to thank him for not going into the war and ending it…' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The meeting, held in the Cabinet Room of the White House, lasted over an hour. Pakistan's ISI chief, Lt Gen Asim Malik, also attended alongside Munir. India and Pakistan agreed to end hostilities on May 10 after four days of heavy cross-border missile and drone attacks. The meeting came at a time when tensions were rising in West Asia, with the US weighing its role in the growing Israel-Iran conflict. Pakistan has condemned Israel's airstrikes on Iran, calling them a breach of international law and a threat to regional peace. 'This is for us a very serious issue what is happening in our brotherly country of Iran. It imperils the entire regional security structures, it impacts us deeply,' Shafqat Ali Khan, spokesman for Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said on Thursday. Smoke rises following an Israeli attack in Tehran. WANA/Reuters Meanwhile, Israel and Iran exchanged fire again on Thursday, marking the seventh day of the ongoing conflict. Iranian missiles struck a major hospital in southern Israel and hit residential areas in Tel Aviv, injuring 240 people and causing serious damage. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz held Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei responsible, saying the Israeli military 'has been instructed and knows that in order to achieve all of its goals, this man absolutely should not continue to exist.' Israel also carried out airstrikes on Iran's Arak heavy water reactor in a fresh attack on its nuclear infrastructure. Iranian state media reported that there was 'no radiation danger whatsoever' and said the site had been cleared ahead of the strike. The White House later said Trump will decide within two weeks whether the US will join Israel's campaign against Iran's military and nuclear targets. Trump, it said, still believes there is a chance to resolve the issue through diplomacy. With inputs from agencies
Hans India
a day ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Pak army chief Munir's meeting with Trump lasted over two hours: ISPR
Islamabad: Pakistan's Army Chief Asim Munir held wide-ranging discussions on counter-terrorism efforts, rising tensions in the Middle East and enhancement of bilateral trade during his meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House, the Pakistani military's media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) stated on Thursday. The meeting took place at a time when Munir's visit to the US has been overshadowed by widespread protests led by members of the Pakistani diaspora and supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. Reports suggest that the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US Special Representative for Middle Eastern Affairs Steve Witkoff also took part in the meeting. From the Pakistani side, Munir was accompanied by the Director General of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Lt Gen Muhammad Asim Malik. According to the ISPR, the meeting, initially scheduled for one hour, extended for over two hours, "underscoring the depth and cordiality of the dialogue". The discussions, it said, 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. Munir acknowledged President Trump's statesmanship and his ability to comprehend and address the multifaceted challenges faced by the global community," ISPR stated. While Munir's visit is being projected as a step towards strengthening military and strategic ties with Washington, the recent backlash from overseas Pakistanis turned his stay at the luxury hotel in Washington into a scene of charged demonstrations. Protesters chanted slogans accusing Munir of human rights violations, branding him as "Pakistanio ke qatil" and "Islamabad ke qatil" -- meaning "killer of Pakistanis" and "killers of Islamabad", respectively. A video widely circulated on social media showed one protester yelling, "Geedad, geedad, geedad (jackal, jackal, jackal)", a derogatory term used to suggest cowardice and deceit. The clip quickly went viral and was described by analysts as a public embarrassment for the Pakistani military establishment. Pakistani-Americans demonstrating outside the hotel stated that their goal was to remind General Munir of the crimes he is allegedly responsible for against the people of Pakistan. This is Munir's first official US trip since the April 22 terror attack on Indian tourists in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which left 26 civilians dead. The Resistance Front, an offshoot of Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility for the massacre.
Economic Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Economic Times
Trump to meet Pakistan's Army Chief Asim Munir over lunch amid Mideast crisis
General Asim Munir's US visit is marked by protests from Pakistani activists, even as he is scheduled to meet with President Trump for lunch. The protests highlight concerns over Munir's actions in Pakistan. Simultaneously, Trump is escalating tensions with Iran, demanding unconditional surrender amidst ongoing conflict in West Asia, a situation complicated by Pakistan's support for Iran. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads US President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet with Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff, General Asim Munir over lunch on Wednesday. A White House itinerary of President Trump for Wednesday shows his lunch meeting with the General Munir is currently on a visit to the United States. On Monday, he was met with protests by overseas Pakistanis and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters in Washington, D.C. Videos circulating on social media show demonstrators chanting slogans such as 'Pakistanio ke Qatil' and 'Islamabad ke Qatil' during an event welcoming Imtiaz Hussain, who identifies herself on X as Executive Director of The Alliance Organisation, posted a video of the protest, saying, 'We're here to protest the criminal dictator of Pakistan. Shame on every bootlicker who showed up in support of fascism—you didn't just betray democracy; you spit on the suffering of millions.'PTI USA also shared protest footage, stating, 'Pakistani-Americans in Washington, DC are protesting outside the Four Seasons hotel, reminding General Asim Munir of the crimes he's committed against the people of Pakistan.'The meeting between Trump and Munir comes at a tense moment globally, with the US President focused on the escalating crisis in West Asia. On Tuesday, Trump took to Truth Social, demanding an 'unconditional surrender' from Iran. He claimed the US had 'complete and total control of the skies over Iran' and knew 'exactly where the so-called 'Supreme Leader' is hiding,' warning, 'our patience is wearing thin,' before posting: 'UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!'In contrast, General Munir has expressed support for Iran. In a recent speech in Washington, he said Pakistan stands with Iran and hopes for a swift resolution to the backdrop to these developments includes a series of Israeli airstrikes on Iranian military and nuclear sites, followed by retaliatory attacks from Tehran. Trump has reiterated his support for Israel and has repeatedly stressed that Iran must not be allowed to acquire nuclear Pakistan Army chief Gen Asim Munir spewed venom against India and Hindus just weeks before the Pahalgam attack, in which several tourists were killed by terrorists, to emphasise that Islamabad's approach has been to "bleed India by thousand cuts".In May, Pakistan's federal cabinet approved the elevation of Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir to the rank of Field Marshal—only the second time in the country's history such a title has been conferred. The decision comes despite acknowledged military and strategic setbacks during the recent conflict with to Dawn, the government cited Munir's leadership in Operation Bunyanum Marsoos and the Indo-Pak confrontation, dubbed Marka-i-Haq, as justification for the rare military analysts have pointed to failures during the operation, the Pakistani government portrayed the outcome as a 'historic victory,' praising General Munir's role in the Munir now joins the ranks of Field Marshal Ayub Khan—Pakistan's first and only other officer to hold the title. Ayub, who seized power in a 1958 military coup and later became President, had conferred the rank upon himself following his assumption of office.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Trump to meet Pak Army Chief Asim Munir over lunch
US President Donald Trump is set to meet Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir over lunch on Wednesday, the President's public schedule stated. The meeting comes days after the US administration denied inviting Munir to the US Army's 250th anniversary celebrations. The US President's public schedule showed that Trump will have lunch with the Chief of Army Staff of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan at 1 pm in the cabinet room. Also Read: Was Asim Munir invited to attend the US military parade? White House clears the air amid backlash Asim Munir is also expected to meet Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth during his US trip, the Dawn reported. The Pakistani army chief arrived in the US on a five-day official visit on Sunday. The report, however, said the trip was not officially linked to the US Army's 250th anniversary celebrations on June 14, adding that it was aimed at 'reinforcing military and strategic ties' between the two countries. During Munir's visit to the US, several PTI supporters gathered outside the Pakistani embassy on Saturday afternoon and protested demanding "unfettered democracy" in Pakistan. Also Read: Viral video shows Asim Munir being heckled by Pakistanis in the US: 'Geedar, mass murderer' In a post on X, PTI USA posted a video of the protest stating, "Pakistani-Americans in Washington, DC are protesting outside the Four Seasons hotel, reminding General Asim Munir of the crimes he's committed against the people of Pakistan."
Mint
3 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
Donald Trump to meet Pakistan Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir in Washington today; check schedule
US President Donald Trump is set to have a lunch meeting on Wednesday with Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff, General Asim Munir. According to the White House itinerary for Wednesday, the meeting with the Pakistani general is scheduled during lunch hours. General Munir is currently visiting the United States, where he encountered protests on Monday from overseas Pakistanis and supporters of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. People shouted slogans "Pakistanio ke Qatil" and "Islamabad ke Qatil" while Munir was being welcomed at an event in Washington DC. Videos of the protest against Munir have surfaced on social media. Nazia Imtiaz Hussain, an X user who identifies herself as Executive Director of The Alliance Organisation, said that they are protesting against the "criminal dictator of Pakistan" and criticised those who 'showed up in support of fascism.' While sharing the video on X, Hussain wrote, 'We're here to protest the criminal dictator of Pakistan. Shame on every bootlicker who showed up in support of fascism--you didn't just betray democracy; you spit on the suffering of millions.' PTI USA also re-shared the videos where the people were holding a protest against General Munir. Pakistani-Americans held a protest against Munir outside the Four Seasons Hotel. While sharing the video of the protest on X, PTI stated, 'Pakistani-Americans in Washington, DC are protesting outside the Four Seasons hotel, reminding General Asim Munir of the crimes he's committed against the people of Pakistan.' Meanwhile, at the G7 Outreach Session in Kananaskis, Canada, PM Narendra Modi said, 'There should be no place for double standards on terrorism. The terrorist attack that happened on 22nd April was not only an attack on Pahalgam, but also on the soul, identity, and dignity of every Indian. It was an attack on the entire humanity.' Meanwhile, the US President has his hands full with the current crisis in West Asia. On Tuesday he posted on Truth Social demanding an "unconditional surrender" by Iran. He also met with his national security team. We're here to protest the criminal dictator of Pakistan. In a series of posts on Truth Social, former President Donald Trump declared that the U.S. now has 'complete and total control of the skies over Iran' and claimed, 'we know exactly where the so-called 'Supreme Leader' is hiding.' He issued a stern warning, saying 'our patience is wearing thin,' and followed up with a bold demand: 'UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!' Amid rising tensions, Pakistan—led by General Asim Munir—has emerged as one of Iran's most vocal supporters. Speaking in Washington, Munir affirmed Pakistan's solidarity with Iran while expressing hope for a swift resolution to the conflict. Key Takeaways The meeting reflects U.S. efforts to navigate Middle Eastern tensions while engaging with Pakistan. Protests against General Munir illustrate the complexities of his leadership and its reception abroad. Iran's influence and support from Pakistan could reshape regional alliances amid ongoing conflicts.
