Latest news with #US-Pak
India Gazette
2 days ago
- Business
- India Gazette
"Reason I had him here was...": Trump on meeting Pak COAS General Asim Munir
Washington, DC [US], June 19 (ANI): US President Donald Trump on Wednesday (local time) hosted Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir at the White House for a lunch meeting, praising Munir for his role in preventing the escalation of the conflict 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...' The luncheon meeting took place amid rising tensions between Israel and Iran, with Trump considering possible US involvement. 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. Meanwhile, Trump once again claimed credit for stopping a 'war' between India and Pakistan, while praising both Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistani Army chief General Asim Munir for their roles in de-escalating tensions in May. 'Prime Minister Modi just left a little while ago and we are working a trade deal with India and also with Pakistan... I am so happy. Two very smart people decided not to keep going with the war. Those are two big nuclear powers. I was honoured to meet him today,' said Trump. However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Trump late on Tuesday that the ceasefire was achieved through talks between the Indian and Pakistani militaries and not US mediation, India's foreign secretary Vikram Misri said earlier on Wednesday. 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)
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)
Economic Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Economic Times
The Donland deal: How Pakistan got Trump's attention again
ET Online Pakistan has entered Donald Trump's mind and occupied some head space by doing what it does best - please, pamper and satisfy all needs of the moment, be it delivering terrorists or minerals. Like it or not, Pakistan is in the room, if not at the table, even as Trump and Modi will bump into each other at the ongoing G7 Summit at Kananaskis, Canada. It anticipated contours of Trump's second coming better, adjusted its posture, made the right offers and made them early. The effort is bolstered by more than 10 different lobbying firms working the system, including one headed by Trump's former bodyguard Keith Schiller.A unique quirk: Trump seems to like generals in uniform. Be sure he's thinking of army chief Asim Munir and not Shehbaz Sharif when he talks of Pakistan's 'great leaders' in his frequent remembrances of the India-Pak ceasefire he 'crafted'. A detail: contrary to reports in the hyper media, Munir was not invited to attend the parade to celebrate 250 years of the US army. India is struggling to adjust to a presidency that is less institutional, less structured and less focused. It's about getting the Kremlinology right, the sophisticated art of reading cryptic and crypto signals, and flying close to the sons (even Barron Trump). Outrage - however satisfying - will not help get over the Trump hump. Nor would cancelling defence orders in a fit of pique and losing the long game. Better to use the relationship to build capacity. It's good to remember that US-Pak relations were factored in when India decided to strengthen relations with Washington back in the day and negotiate the nuclear deal. They have remained a reality even though New Delhi thought it had put Pakistan in the diplomatic isolation ward. It kept bouncing back with American and British help and a permanent cadre of sympathetic bureaucrats, including retired ambassadors, in both capitals. Official India learnt to deal with the pain even if IT cell warriors and rabid TV anchors didn' says an analyst, the question remains the same: 'Does India want to - or will it - give Pakistan a veto on US- India ties?' The answer from New Delhi so far seems to be 'no' even as anger rises and political pain grows. Pakistan will do anything to please Trump and Sons. India will Pakistan's play. Over the past few years, with the Afghanistan war over and US interest waning, the army-ISI combine realised that Pakistan was no longer a frontline state. Joe Biden paid little attention and never dialled Islamabad. As American focus moved to the Indo-Pacific and rivalry with China, Pakistan knew it wasn't going to be part of the Quad, although it made some half-hearted elite understood they couldn't vie with India. But they were 'happy just to be heard and not be considered irrelevant'. The militablishment went back to the original drawing board - counterterrorism cooperation - to keep parts of the US government engaged. The easiest doors to open were at the State Department and was dismissive of Pakistan. But note that his administration approved $450 mn to 'sustain' Pakistan's F-16 fleet, including engine hardware upgrades and classified software support. The package was said to be for counterterrorism operations. In a replay, Trump approved $397 mn in February for the same fleet, despite announcing a wide freeze on foreign aid. He made an the background, Rawalpindi slowly took control of Pakistan's China policy from the politicians and worked to dispel the notion the country was (completely) in Beijing's camp. Americans wanted to believe the myth for their own reasons. For the Pakistan army, maintaining ties to America, enjoying the free military training and keeping tabs on Pentagon's thinking have always been priorities. To say nothing of serving as an important window for China in to the point, Pakistani generals never let US Centcom lose sight of the fact that their country was/is always available as a strategic staging area for US operations. Which brings us to the present. Munir and Centcom commander Michael Kurilla go back a long way. Both assumed their current positions in 2022 and have hosted each other more than shouldn't be a surprise that last week, the American general called Pakistan 'a phenomenal partner' in the fight against IS-Khorasan. Kurilla clearly thinks the military partnership with Pakistan can, and should, exist separately from the one with was the first person Munir called to say that the Abbey Gate bomber Mohammad Sharifullah, a.k.a. Jaffar, had been caught. He then requested that the message be passed on to the president. Result: a special mention in Trump's address to so it will go. Until it won't. Elevate your knowledge and leadership skills at a cost cheaper than your daily tea. How a nudge from Cyrus Mistry helped TCS unlock a USD1 billion opportunity Operation Sindoor, Turkey, Bangladesh played out as India hosted global airlines after 42 years Benchmarked with BSE 1000, this index fund will diversify your bets. But at a cost. How individual bankruptcy law can halt suicides by failed businessmen Explainer: The RBI's LAF corridor and its role in rate transmission Stock picks of the week: 5 stocks with consistent score improvement and return potential of more than 32% in 1 year Defence stocks: Black & white, and many shades of grey. 10 stocks with an upside potential of up to 30% Stock Radar: 40% drop from highs! Swiggy stocks make a rounding bottom pattern; time to buy the dip?
India Today
12-06-2025
- Politics
- India Today
After general's praise, Pak Army chief Asim Munir invited to US military parade
Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir, is set to visit the United States this week to attend the 250th anniversary celebrations of the US Army in Washington DC, top sources an invitation from Washington, sources said Munir has confirmed his presence at a military parade in the American capital on Saturday, which also happens to be US President Donald Trump's 79th birthday. His visit comes amid heightened tensions between India and to sources, Munir will also hold meetings with senior officials from the US State Department and the Pentagon during his visit. Neither Pakistan nor the US has confirmed the high-level military engagement. The visit comes days after a top US general's praise for Munir. At a congressional hearing this week, Gen Michael Kurilla, head of the US Central Command (CENTCOM), called Pakistan "a phenomenal partner in the counterterrorism world" and underscored Islamabad's contributions to operations against to Munir's rumoured visit, noted South Asia analyst Michael Kugelman remarked that a stopover at CENTCOM could be on the cards."He [Munir] and Gen Kurilla have met 3 times in less than 2 years. Kurilla praised him yesterday in Hill testimony. US-Pak officer-to-officer ties are generally strong," Kugelman tweeted. advertisement Meanwhile, the US invitation to Munir has stirred sharp reactions in India. Congress communications head Jairam Ramesh called it "another huge diplomatic setback for India"."This is the man who spoke in such incendiary and provocative language just before the Pahalgam terror attacks. What is the US really up to? This is another huge diplomatic setback for India," Ramesh said in an X post on the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives and set Operation Sindoor into motion, India has ramped up diplomatic efforts to isolate Pakistan globally, dispatching all-party delegations to 33 foreign capitals and the European Union for anti-terror arrival in Washington is also being met with protests from the Pakistani diaspora. Former Prime Minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party has announced demonstrations in the US capital during the army chief's visit."Let the White House know that any deal with this government is not acceptable to the people of Pakistan," PTI's Secretary for Overseas Affairs, Sajjad Burki, tweeted. Burki urged Pakistani-Americans to join a protest outside the Pakistan Embassy in Washington on June calling for mass mobilisation have been distributed in Pakistani-American neighbourhoods across the city, sources Watch
