Latest news with #PakistaniArmy
Time of India
11 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Honoured to meet Pak army chief Asim Munir, says Trump after their discussion
Two "very smart" leaders of India and Pakistan decided to end last month's conflict that could have turned into a nuclear war, US President Donald Trump said after holding a rare luncheon meeting with Pakistan army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir at the White House. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "Those are two nuclear powers, big ones, big, big nuclear powers, and they decided that (to end the conflict)," Trump said. The comments were seen at variance with his claims over a dozen times in the last few weeks that he brokered the India-Pakistan "ceasefire deal". The unusual display of self-restraint by the US President in not squeezing himself in the frame immediately attracted attention in India because it followed PM Modi's Tuesday conversation with Trump, in which Modi had made plain that India would never let anyone meddle in its dealings with Pakistan. tnn & agencies In the telephonic conversation, Modi had also refuted Donald Trump's public claim that he had brandished the threat of not doing a trade deal to get India agree to suspend the conflict with Pakistan, and asserted that Islamabad sued for peace after severe damage to its nine strategically crucial airbases by the IAF. In his remarks to the media, Trump said he was "honoured" to meet Munir and that he discussed with the army chief the situation arising out of Iran-Israel conflict, amid speculation that Washington was looking at using Pakistani military bases in case it decides to launch attacks on Iran. Trump was effusive in lauding Modi, and referred to his telephonic conversation with the PM Tuesday night. In a statement, the Pakistani Army said the US President expressed keen interest in forging a "mutually beneficial" trade partnership with Pakistan based on long-term strategic convergence and shared interests. Trump was accompanied at the meeting by secretary of state Marco Rubio and US Special Representative for the Middle East Steve Witkoff. Munir was joined in by Pakistan national security adviser and spy agency ISI chief Lt Gen Asim Malik. Ahead of his meeting with Trump, Munir reportedly pitched for Nobel Peace Prize for the president for "preventing a nuclear war" between India and Pakistan. "The reason I had him here was that I want to thank him for not going into war (with India)... Tired of too many ads? go ad free now And, I want to thank PM Modi as well," Trump said. "We're working on a trade deal with India. We're working on a trade deal with Pakistan." Hours before hosting Munir, Trump claimed credit for ending the conflict but he did not repeat it in his media remarks after the meet. Asked if Iran was discussed in the meeting with Munir, Trump said: "Well, they know Iran very well, better than most..." "It's not that they're bad with Israel. They know them both, actually, but they probably, maybe they know Iran better, but they see what's going on, and he agreed with me," he said. The US-Pakistan trade partnership discussions, the Pakistan army said, encompassed avenues for expanding cooperation in domains such as economic development, mines and minerals, AI, energy, cryptocurrency and emerging technologies. It is rare for the US President to host a lunch for a foreign country's army chief. 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.
Express Tribune
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Civil–military unity behind improved US engagement, says Khawaja Asif
Listen to article Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has termed Civil–military unity behind improved US engagement as he described the meeting between Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir and US President Donald Trump as a 'milestone' in the history of Pakistan–US relations. Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir held a one-on-one meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House over lunch on Wednesday. During the two-hour meeting, the two leaders discussed a wide range of issues, focusing on expanding bilateral cooperation in trade, artificial intelligence, energy, cryptocurrency, and emerging technologies. They also exchanged views on regional security matters, including counter-terrorism efforts, the recent ceasefire between Pakistan and India, and rising tensions in the Middle East. فیلڈ مارشل عاصم منیر اور صدر ٹرمپ کی ملاقات پاک امریکہ تعلقات میں ایک سنگ میل ھے۔ اس سے پہلے امریکہ صدر کی پاکستانی آرمی چیف کی دعوت اور ملاقات کی مثال نہیں یہ تعلقات کی 78سال کی تاریخ سب سے اھم موڑ ھے۔ اس ملاقات میں جسطرح بین الاقوامی اور خطہ کے معاملات زیر بحث آۓ اس سے وطنُ… — Khawaja M. Asif (@KhawajaMAsif) June 19, 2025 In a statement posted on X, Asif said that never before in the 78-year diplomatic history of the two countries had a US president invited and met a Pakistani Army chief in this manner. 'This is a turning point in the 78-year history of our relations,' he said. 'The way regional and international issues were discussed during this meeting highlighted Pakistan's strategic importance. Our role in resolving global matters was acknowledged.' According to Asif, the discussion also brought renewed international attention to the longstanding India–Pakistan disputes, particularly the situation in Kashmir. 'This is the success of the current hybrid model of governance,' he added, referring to the political-military coordination under PM Shehbaz Sharif and COAS Munir. 'The revival of the economy, India's diplomatic setbacks, and the dignified, successful improvement in relations with the United States — all these revolutionary changes have been made possible due to the strong coordination between Islamabad and Rawalpindi.' Read More: Trump calls meeting COAS Munir an honour at White House luncheon US President Donald Trump called his meeting with COAS Munir 'an honour' after 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.'
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First Post
21 hours ago
- Politics
- First Post
'Pakistan has long played double game': Ex-US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad warns Trump about Munir
After US President Donald Trump met Pakistan's army chief Field Marshall Asim Munir at the White House, Zalmay Khalilzad, the former US Special Envoy for Afghanistan, flagged Pakistan's long history of double game and warned Trump that Munir could not be trusted. read more Zalmay Khalilzad, the former top US diplomat for Afghanistan, has warned US President Donald Trump about Pakistan's long history of double game. The warning came shortly after Trump had a working lunch with Pakistan's army chief Field Marshall Asim Munir at the White House on Wednesday. Trump said that he was 'honoured' to meet Munir and described him as a 'smart' man. Khalilzad told Trump how Pakistan played the United States during the War on Terror era. He noted that, after a decade of search, Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden was found in Pakistan. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'During the years of our military presence in Afghanistan, Pakistan took our assistance and at the same time provided support and sanctuary to those who were killing our forces. Similarly, during the war on terror after 9/11, the Pakistani military selectively helped both us and the Al-Qaida terrorists. Where did we find Bin Laden? All cozy in Pakistan near one of Pakistan's military facilities. And Pakistan still holds Dr. Afidi who helped us find and eliminate Bin Laden. Bottom line: Gen Asim Munir cannot be trusted,' said Khalilzad in a post on X. It is a great gift and honor that @Potus is bestowing on Pakistan's General Asim Munir by hosting him for lunch. Besides Indo-Pakistan relations, the General is likely to have the following on his agenda: 1. Get US investment in Pakistan's minerals via military-owned companies,… — Zalmay Khalilzad (@realZalmayMK) June 18, 2025 Trump's embrace of Pakistan in his second term has coincided with actions that have turned the relationship with India sour. Since assuming office, Trump has undermined the Indian positions on Operation Sindoor and the Kashmir issue, sought unfair terms in trade talks, and formed an alliance with jihadists in West Asia . On the other hand, he has sought a reset in US-Pakistan ties that had hit a low under the previous Joe Biden administration — Biden notably never spoke to his Pakistani counterpart in four years. Khalilzad explains what Munir wants from Trump Munir told Trump that Munir, the de facto ruler of Pakistan, was appeasing Trump to secure his interests and those of the Pakistani Army. Khalilzad said that even though he has got himself promoted to field marshall and has found some popularity lately, he continues to face widespread opposition in Pakistan over the incarceration of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and the crackdown on his party Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI). ALSO READ: Trump wants military bases from Munir, offers security-trade deals in US-Pak reset: Report STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Khalilzad listed four objectives that Munir has with his dealings with Trump: Get US investment in Pakistan's minerals via military-owned companies Get Trump to outsource the protection of US interests in Afghanistan, including on terrorism, to the Pakistani military. In return, Munir would offer to be a medium in communication with China. Secure greater legitimacy and to create the impression that Trump endorses his de facto status as Pakistan's ruler-for-life. Considering the relationship between Pakistan's army and terrorists in Afghanistan, outsourcing the protection of US interests in Afghanistan would be a 'formula for utter disaster', according to Khalilzad.
The Print
a day ago
- Politics
- The Print
Why betting on a reformed Iran could be a mistake for India
A secular and liberal Reza Shah supplied Pakistan with arms , supported its war efforts against India by continuous supply of oil, and went to the extent of being an 'arms dealer' to keep the Pakistani Army going. Let's unpack this argument. Last time when a secular monarch was ruling Iran—Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi—his regime supported Pakistan, providing them with weapons and oil, and even harbouring their aircraft during the 1965 India-Pakistan war. With Iran and Israel locked in a military conflict, many experts, or non-experts, are giving different 'prophecies' of the war between the two West Asian countries. Some suggest the capitulation of Iran, backed by the West, would bring peace in the region and end all the bloodshed. Some predict it will make the invasion of Iraq look like a skirmish. Some even say Iran will be Balkanised. Amid all these so-called prophecies, Yusuf T Unjhawala, in an opinion piece in ThePrint, titled A reformed Iran is a valuable friend to India , argues that 'a secular and reform-oriented regime in Iran could be less prone to aligning with India's adversaries on ideological grounds'. After the 1971 war between India and Pakistan, Pahlavi, in a stern message to India, had said, 'Iran has no aggressive intentions, but it will not accept any attempt to liquidate Pakistan. The USSR and India must be fully aware of our resolution. We do not want a new Vietnam on the frontier of Iran.' Most importantly, can India ignore Donald Trump hosting Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir in White House for lunch on 18 June? Is that good news for India? Let's leave that to the Indian dispensation. Unjhawala argues that after the fall of the current Islamic regime, post-war Iran would possibly re-integrated into the Western world, the sanctions on it would be lifted, and peace and business would prevail. However, this argument raises some pertinent questions. Who will rule Iran after the fall of the regime? Is there any party or a figure to shoulder the very diverse and civilisational state? The answer is no. There is no visible opposition inside or outside the country. Israel and some Western countries are supporting 64-year-old Reza Pahlavi, the eldest son of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the deposed monarch of Iran. Reza has given interviews to many news channels, with one BBC anchor asking him, 'Are you actually saying then that Israel bombing your in Iran being killed is a positive thing?' To this, Reza answered, 'I am not saying Israeli targeting was meant to hurt Iranian people. The targeting was meant to neutralise the regime.' A simple Google search will give the number of people killed in Iran in Israeli aerial campaigns. According to an Iranian government spokesperson, at least 224 Iranians have been killed in Israeli attacks, with most of them civilians. Also read: Israel crushed Ayatollah's regime, but stopping Iran's nuke programme will need total overthrow India-Iran relations post 1979 uprising Both India and Iran have enjoyed a great relationship since the monarchy was overthrown in Iran in February 1979. Iran has been extremely crucial for India regarding the Kashmir issue. Back in 1991, India, having mortgaged its gold reserves, was teetering on the edge of an economic collapse, while its long-time ally, Russia, was grappling with the aftermath of the Soviet Union's dissolution. Meanwhile, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) was advocating a resolution at the Office of the UN Commissioner on Human Rights (OHCHR), later renamed the Human Rights Council, to denounce India for alleged human rights abuses in Kashmir. If the resolution had passed, it would have been escalated to the UN Security Council, potentially triggering economic sanctions and other punitive measures against India. OIC decisions require consensus for adoption. In 1994, it was Iran's vote in the OIC that killed the resolution. In Geneva, when Pakistan's envoy sought to advance the resolution, Iran's representative, following explicit directives from Tehran, declined to back it. Now let's look at the trade between Iran and India. Despite harsh sanctions on Iran, it traded goods worth $2.3 billion in 2024 with India, which could reach $10 billion within a couple of years, according to Indian Ambassador Rudra Gaurav Shresth. Iran was a key oil supplier for India until 2019, when US sanctions pushed it to look for alternatives Now, consider India's strategic interests within the Islamic Republic of Iran. India and Iran are jointly developing the Shahid Beheshti Port at Chabahar, Iran. It is crucial for India's access to Central Asia and Afghanistan, bypassing Pakistan and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. A 10-year agreement was signed in May 2024, granting India the operations of the Shahid Beheshti terminal. It is key to the International North–South Transport Corridor, a 7,200-km-long multi-mode network of ship, rail, and road routes for moving freight between India, Iran, Azerbaijan, Russia, Central Asia, and Europe. Both Iranian and Indian leaders have paid visits to each other's countries. India, on multiple occasions, has supported Iran's 'peaceful nuclear ambitions' while opposing the Islamic Republic's ambitions to develop nuclear weapons. During his November 2009 trip to Washingon, former Prime Minsiter late Manmohan Singh said, 'As a signatory to NPT (Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty) it (Iran) has all the rights that flow from the NPT for the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, it has obligations that go with its membership.' During his 2012 Tehran visit, then-External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee backed Iran's right to peaceful uses of nuclear energy. Then, during PM Narendra Modi's 2016 visit to Tehran, he said that 'India and Iran are not new friends. Our 'dosti' (friendship) is as old as history,' PM Modi even in 2016 called Iran to be the first country to respond for India's help during the 2001 Bhuj earthquake. So betting on an Iran which is 'reformed' or 'secular' at this time is bizarre. On several occasions, India chose the wrong side or put all the eggs in one basket, which haunted the country or still casts shadows over its strategic outlook. Like after the fall of Sheikh Hasina's Awami League, chief of Bangladesh's interim government, Muhammad Yunus in China said, 'The eastern part of India, known as the Seven Sisters, is landlocked. They have no access to the ocean. We are the only guardians of the ocean in this region. This opens up huge possibilities.' In the case of the fall of Mohammed Najibullah's rule in Afghanistan during the late 1980s and early 1990s, it proved fatal for India's strategic ties with Afghanistan. Later on, the Taliban, supported by Pakistan, captured Kabul which created serious security ramifications for New Delhi as it influenced the rise of terrorism in the Kashmir valley in the 1990s. (Edited by Aamaan Alam Khan)
Mint
a day ago
- Politics
- Mint
‘Hope food was good': Shashi Tharoor invokes ‘Osama episode' on Donald Trump lunching with Pakistan's Asim Munir
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has weighed in on the meeting between US President Donald Trump and Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir, expressing hope that the discussions included pointed reminders about Pakistan's alleged role in terrorism. 'I hope the food was good and he gets some food for thought in the process', the Congress MP remarked sarcastically adding, 'People in the US could not have forgotten the Osama episode so quickly'. Harping on India's tough stance against terrorism and its foster home Pakistan, Tharoor said, 'I hope that in these interactions, the Americans reminded Pakistan of not enabling, guiding, training, arming, financing, equipping, and dispatching terrorists to our country from their soil.' Reminding people of the way Pakistan's Bilawal Bhutto was shut down repeatedly in US, Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram, Shashi Tharoor said, 'Some American Senators and Congressmen who met the Pakistani delegation did do this.' US President Donald Trump hosted Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir for a private luncheon at the White House, marking a rare high-level engagement between the two nations' military leadership. The unprecedented meeting risked worsening a disagreement with India over the president's claim that he stopped last month's conflict between the nuclear-armed South Asian foes. The meeting, held on June 18, centred on discussions about regional security challenges, counterterrorism efforts, and the evolving geopolitical dynamics in South Asia. The 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. While the official agenda of Trump-Munir talks remained confidential, the luncheon was seen as an attempt by Washington to maintain open channels with Pakistan's military establishment, even as concerns about terrorism and cross-border militancy persist. The meeting lasted over an hour and included senior US defence and diplomatic officials, underscoring the strategic importance Washington places on its relationship with Pakistan's military leadership. Donald Trump said he was honoured to meet Asim Munir and that they had discussed Iran, which he said Pakistan knew better than most. Trump told reporters he had thanked Munir 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. Shashi Tharoor invoked the 'Osama episode' to underline the gravity of Pakistan's past actions in harbouring terrorists. Tharoor noted, 'People in the US could not have forgotten the Osama episode so quickly.' The reference alludes to the decade-long hunt for Osama bin Laden, who was found hiding in a safe house near a Pakistani Army camp in Abbottabad. 'Pakistan's culpability in hiding this man until he was finally found... cannot easily be forgotten and forgiven by the Americans,' Tharoor added. Osama bin Laden, founder of the terrorist group al-Qaeda, masterminded the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, which involved hijacking four commercial airplanes and crashing them into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and a field in Pennsylvania. These coordinated attacks killed nearly 3,000 people and marked the deadliest terrorist incident on American soil, prompting the US to launch the War on Terror. After nearly a decade in hiding, bin Laden was located and killed by US special forces in a 2011 raid in Pakistan.
