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News18
2 days ago
- Politics
- News18
'Asim Munir At White House' Memes Break The Internet As Trump Hosts Him For Lunch
Last Updated: The internet seemed to think Bollywood masala was the best way to interpret the significant meeting between US President Donald Trump and Pakistani Field Marshall Asim Munir It may be a sign that US President Donald Trump is seeking to bring an end to the ongoing crisis between Israel and Iran, but internet users had a rather different take on his lunch invitation to Pakistan Chief of Army Staff Field Marshall Asim Munir. The most serious issues take on a life of their own on the internet, but that does not mean they are without context and interpretation. The internet seemed to think some Bollywood masala would be the best way to interpret the meeting between Trump and Field Marshall Asim Munir. 'Cringe' (what the internet calls it these days) was the flavour of this interpretation of the closed-door lunch meeting, with memes depicting scenes from Anil Kapoor and Amrish Puri starrer Rishtey (2002) to Sadashiv Amrapurkar's popular scene from Ishq (1997), which said: 'Donald Trump after meeting Asim Munir." Donald Trump with Asim Munir in White House — Jo Kar (@i_am_gustakh) June 18, 2025 Others, too, were not as subtle with captions like 'Donald Trump and Asim Munir's exclusive video from the White House" or 'Donald Trump with Asim Munir in White House". Asim Munir in White House — Moana (@ladynationalist) June 18, 2025 On Tuesday (June 17), the White House confirmed a meeting between Trump and Pakistan Chief of Army Staff Field Marshall Asim Munir for a closed-door meeting on Wednesday. The last Pakistani military leader to meet a sitting US President was General Pervez Musharraf in 2001, who did so as the nation's head of state during his tenure as a military dictator. The Trump-Munir meeting came as reports speculated on the possibility of Pakistan aiding Iran during its ongoing conflict with Israel. Asim Munir, in a public address in Washington, DC, had declared Pakistan's 'clear and strong" support for Iran in its war with Israel while also backing US efforts to de-escalate the situation. The Dawn reported that one of the most consequential developments during Munir's visit, however, has been Pakistan's strengthened counterterrorism partnership with the US, particularly against the Islamic State Khorasan (IS-K) group. Earlier, overseas Pakistanis protested against Field Marshal Asim Munir outside an event at a hotel in Washington, DC. People shouted slogans 'Pakistanio ke Qatil" and 'Islamabad ke Qatil", 'Mass Murderer Asim Munir", 'Democracy dies when guns speak", 'Asim Munir, your time is up. Pakistan will rise" while he was being welcomed at the event.
India Gazette
3 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
Trump to meet Pak COAS Asim Munir in Washington, experts say Iran on agenda
Washington, DC [US], June 18 (ANI): The White House on Tuesday confirmed a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Pakistan Chief of Army Staff Field Marshall Asim Munir for Wednesday. The meeting comes even as the US seeks to bring to an end the ongoing crisis in West Asia. South Asia analyst Michael Kugelman pointed out the significance of the meeting in a post on X. 'Senior US officials often engage with Pakistani Army Chiefs, but rarely is one hosted at the White House by the US President. One of many reasons why Munir's scheduled meeting with Trump is so significant, especially as his administration considers its options regarding the war in Iran,' he posted on X. 'For what it's worth, the scheduled Trump-Munir meeting shouldn't only be seen through the lens of the Israel-Iran war. There's been US-Pak engagement on critical minerals, crypto, and Counter Terrorism. Trump takes a deep personal interest in all of these. And Munir is empowered to talk about it all. Also, Kashmir,' he added. Derek J. Grossman, National Security and Indo-Pacific analyst, said, 'India, time to speak up! Trump this week is scheduled to meet at the White House with Pakistani Field Marshal Asim Munir, who New Delhi believes is the terrorist mastermind behind attacks on Indians.' The last Pakistani military leader to meet a sitting U.S. President was General Pervez Musharraf in 2001, who did so as the nation's head of state during his tenure as a military dictator. The Trump-Munir meeting comes after reports speculated on the possibility of Pakistan aiding Iran during its ongoing conflict with Israel. Asim Munir, in a public address in Washington, DC, had declared Pakistan's 'clear and strong' support for Iran in its war with Israel while also backing US efforts to de-escalate the situation. The Dawn reported that one of the most consequential developments during Munir's visit, however, has been Pakistan's strengthened counterterrorism partnership with the United States, particularly against the Islamic State Khorasan (IS-K) group. Earlier, overseas Pakistanis protested against Field Marshal Asim Munir outside an event at a hotel in Washington, DC. People shouted slogans 'Pakistanio ke Qatil' and 'Islamabad ke Qatil' while Munir was being welcomed at the event. While sharing the video of the protest on X, Pak Tehreek-e-Insaaf (Imran Khan's party) 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.' The video showed a screen which had Asim Munir's photo along with the message which read, 'Mass Murderer Asim Munir', 'Democracy dies when guns speak', and Asim Munir, your time is up. Pakistan will rise.' (ANI)
Mint
4 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
Pakistan shuts borders with Iran 'indefinitely'; hundreds evacuated as missile attacks in Israel-Iran conflict continue
Iran-Israel conflict: Pakistan has shut all border crossings with Iran 'indefinitely' as missile attacks in Israel-Iran conflict continue, said officials, as per reports. Hundreds of Pakistani students and pilgrims have also been evacuated from Iran, reported The Dawn. Earlier in the day, Iran had claimed that Pakistan has 'asserted' that it would attack Israel with a nuclear bomb if the nation launches a nuclear strike against Iran. Pakistan's Defence Minister, however denied the claims.
Mint
28-05-2025
- Climate
- Mint
Pakistan: Storms trigger floods, landslides in POK, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; 10 dead
Atleast four women and a man died in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, while three in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa lost their lives after storms hit the region, news agency AFP quoted the State Disaster Management Authority. Apart from this, two people also died in Pakistan's Punjab province. While the majority of the deaths were caused by collapsing walls and roofs, major damages were caused by destructive windstorms that raged across central and northern Pakistan. According to The Dawn, severe rain and windstorms killed seven people in PoK, Punjab, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while over two dozen others sustained injuries. A senior government official in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, Haroon Rasheed, added that one person is still missing. He added that 12 houses and a mosque were destroyed in one village. Quoting Rescue 1122, The Dawn mentioned that a passenger van overturned due to rain and dust storm on Ghazi-Lawrencepur Road in Attock, resulting in the death of one passenger. Four children were injured when the wall of their house collapsed in Rehmo village of Attock district following a windstorm. According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), the extreme conditions may persist through 31 May, with the upper and central Punjab districts including Rawalpindi, Lahore, Gujranwala, and Faisalabad, facing the highest risk. According to the National Disaster Management Authority, as quoted by AFP, the stormy weather is expected to continue in northern and central parts of Pakistan until Saturday. Rising temperatures in April and May are becoming more common in Pakistan. In April, the temperatures reached near-record levels—as high as 46.5 Celsius (116 Fahrenheit) in parts of Punjab. Citing the soaring temperatures, the schools in Punjab and southwestern Balochistan provinces have closed early for summer vacations.
NDTV
27-05-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Pak Raises India Conflict With Iran. Ayatollah Khamenei's Measured Response
Quick Read Summary is AI generated, newsroom reviewed. Iran and Pakistan are mending relations after airstrikes a year ago, driven by shared concerns over Gaza. PM Shehbaz Sharif emphasized peace talks with India, while Iran's Khamenei praised Pakistan's stance on Palestine, urging Muslim unity amid conflicts. New Delhi: A year after they conducted airstrikes in each other's territory, Iran and Pakistan appear to be burying the hatchet as Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir visit Tehran and meet the Iranian leadership. The key factor bringing the countries together is Gaza, devastated in the aftermath of Israel's brutal counterstrike to the Hamas attacks in October 2023. While Pakistan brought up its recent conflict with India and Kashmir, Iran's leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, in public remarks, has only said Iran hopes disputes between India and Pakistan are resolved. The Gaza Unity Factor According to a report in The Tehran Times, Khamenei has acknowledged that Pakistan has not joined the countries normalising ties with Israel in "a blatant betrayal of the Palestinian cause" despite Western pressure. "While there have been temptations for Islamic countries to engage with the Zionist regime in recent years, Pakistan has never succumbed to these temptations," he said during a meeting with the Pakistani Prime Minister. He said the Palestine issue is the foremost concern of the Islamic world. "The situation in Gaza has reached a point where ordinary people in Europe and the United States are protesting their governments, yet unfortunately, some Islamic governments stand alongside the Zionist regime under these circumstances," he said. The Dawn reported that Israeli actions have caused untold misery for the people of Gaza. "It is high time that the international community used its influence to bring a lasting ceasefire in Palestine. Pakistan stands by its brothers and sisters in Iran to promote peace, progress and prosperity," he said. Pak's Kashmir Push, Iran's Reply During his meeting with Khamenei, Sharif brought up the India-Pakistan conflict after New Delhi carried out airstrikes in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir to avenge the Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 innocents dead. The Pakistan Prime Minister appreciated Iran's "positive role" during the conflict. During a joint press conference with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Sharif said Pakistan is ready to talk with India "to find solutions" to "longstanding problems", including Kashmir, water-sharing and trade. "We are ready to talk, for the sake of peace on water issues with our neighbour. We are ready to talk to promote trade and also, counter-terrorism. We wanted peace, we want peace and we will work for peace in the region through talks, on the table, and resolve our outstanding issues," Sharif said, according to a report in The Dawn. "But if they accept my offer of peace, then we will show that we really want peace, seriously and sincerely." Iran's response was measured. "We are delighted with the end of conflicts between Pakistan and India and hope that the differences between the two countries will be resolved," Khamenei said on X. Iranian state media IRNA reported that President Pezeshkian voiced Iran's support for a durable ceasefire between India and Pakistan, calling for dialogue to resolve disputes and promote peace. A Thaw In Iran-Pakistan Ties Last year, Iran carried out airstrikes in Pakistan's border province of Balochistan to target the Jaish al-Adl group, which has targeted Iranian border guards in the past. A Sunni Salafi organisation, Jaish al-Adl is a terrorist group that wants the independence of Sistan and Baluchistan province in Iran. Pakistan retaliated with airstrikes in Iran, targeting militant outfit Baloch Liberation Front. Against this backdrop, the Pakistan Prime Minister's Tehran visit marks a thaw in ties. A global threat assessment report by the US' Defense Intelligence Agency has said, "Pakistan and Iran have taken steps, including high-level meetings, to deescalate tensions after the two countries conducted unilateral airstrikes on each other's territory in January 2024 in response to cross-border terror attacks." Khamenei said in a post on X that relations between Iran and Pakistan have always been "warm and brotherly". "Pakistan's commendable stance during the war Saddam imposed on Iran is a clear example of these brotherly relations," he said. Calling for a unity of Muslim nations, the Iran leader added, "At a time when the world's warmongers have many incentives to create conflicts and wars, the only way to ensure the security of the Islamic Ummah is the unity of Muslim nations." How Is India Balancing Iran Ties On May 9, when the conflict between India and Pakistan was still on, India hosted Iranian Foreign Affairs Minister Abbas Araghchi for the 20th India-Iran Joint Commission Meeting and reviewed bilateral ties. During this meeting, co-chaired by External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and Mr Araghchi, both sides strongly condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and called for enhanced regional cooperation to combat the threat. Dr Jaishankar also briefed the Iranian minister on Operation Sindoor. Earlier, in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, Iran had offered to mediate between India and Pakistan. "India and Pakistan are brotherly neighbours of Iran, enjoying relations rooted in centuries-old cultural and civilizational ties. Like other neighbours, we consider them our foremost priority. Tehran stands ready to use its good offices in Islamabad and New Delhi to forge greater understanding at this difficult time," he said. India has consistently mentioned that its conflict with Pakistan is a bilateral issue. The government has also made it clear to the US, and other countries offering mediation that there is only one matter left to be discussed -- the return of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Pakistan handing over terrorists. The Geopolitical Backdrop India has maintained a neutral stance on the Gaza conflict, which has emerged as the uniting factor for Pakistan and Iran. In a written reply in Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh said India has "always supported a negotiated two-State solution, towards establishment of a sovereign, independent and viable State of Palestine within secure and recognized borders, living side by side in peace with Israel". India had strongly condemned the October 2023 attacks in Israel and also the loss of civilian lives in the Israel-Hamas conflict, and called for a ceasefire and sustained humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza. Pakistan's outreach to Iran also comes against the backdrop of Iran's tussle with the US amid their talks on Tehran's nuclear programme. The US is India's key defence partner and New Delhi will be assessing the geopolitical math closely before making any move.
