Trump Highlights Pakistan’s Role in Iran-Israel Conflict During Meeting with Asim Munir

U.S. President Donald Trump said Pakistan “knows Iran better than we do” during a rare meeting with Pakistan’s Army Chief, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, at the White House. The two leaders discussed the rising tensions between Iran and Israel, with Trump calling Pakistan a key regional player.

“Pakistan understands Iran better than us — they’re a key player in regional peace,” Trump told reporters after the meeting.

The one-on-one meeting took place in the Cabinet Room, followed by a luncheon hosted by Trump in Munir’s honour. A White House spokesperson said the lunch was arranged to recognize Pakistan’s role in promoting regional stability and to thank Munir for helping de-escalate recent tensions between Pakistan and India.

“It’s an honour to meet Field Marshal Asim Munir. I thanked him for not letting things spiral into war,” Trump said, referring to the cross-border conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbours earlier this year.

Trump also revealed that the U.S. is in early talks about possible trade agreements with both Pakistan and India. “We’re in early talks on trade — Pakistan’s concerns are being heard,” he said.

According to diplomatic sources, General Munir is also set to meet U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pat Hegseth in the coming days. These meetings are seen in Islamabad as a major diplomatic success and a sign of renewed U.S.-Pakistan strategic dialogue after years of limited engagement.

When asked about the results of the meeting, Trump praised Munir’s leadership in easing tensions with India. “General Asim has played a strong role in lowering Pak-India tensions. We appreciate his leadership,” he said.

In a brief earlier exchange with the press, Trump described Munir as “an influential figure who played a critical role in preventing a war” and said Pakistan was “an important nuclear country with good people.”

“This man has been extremely effective in preventing war from Pakistan’s side,” Trump added.

The luncheon also gave both sides the chance to discuss serious security matters, especially the Iran-Israel conflict. Pakistani Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed said the White House was particularly interested in Munir’s view of the crisis and its possible impact on the region.

“President Trump does not want tensions between India and Pakistan to grow. He also wants to hear Field Marshal Munir’s views on the Iran-Israel conflict to help shape U.S. policy,” Senator Mushahid said on a local news channel.

He added that recent events, including Pakistan’s claimed military success in a five-day conflict with India, may have influenced Washington to re-assess Islamabad’s strategic role in the region.

Source: Web Desk