United States (US) President Donald Trump is scheduled to host Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, for lunch at the White House today (Wednesday).

 

According to the president’s official schedule, the meeting will be held in the Cabinet Room and will be closed to the press.

 

This development marks a notable diplomatic win for Pakistan in the ongoing contest following last month’s aerial clash with India, which nearly pushed South Asia to the brink of nuclear conflict.

 

During his five-day official visit to the US, the Field Marshal addressed members of the Pakistani American community on Monday evening in Washington, D.C. The army chief categorically rejected Indian claims that Pakistan was behind the April 22 militant attack in Pahalgam in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), calling it a pretext for cross-border aggression.

 

He accused New Delhi of seeking to establish a dangerous “new normal” of violating international borders, which Islamabad had forcefully rejected. “We would rather embrace martyrdom than accept this dishonour,” he added.

 

Addressing the broader regional landscape, the Field Marshal declared Pakistan’s “clear and strong” support for Iran in its war with Israel. He also backed US efforts to de-escalate the situation, stressing, “We want this war to end immediately.”

 

The army chief emphasised Pakistan’s gratitude for the role overseas Pakistanis play in bolstering the national economy. He dismissed concerns over brain drain, describing it instead as a “brain gain.”

 

One of the consequential outcomes of Munir’s visit has been the deepening of Pakistan’s counterterrorism cooperation with the US, particularly in efforts against the Islamic State Khorasan (IS-K) group.

 

Last week, Chief of United States Central Command (CENTCOM) General Michael Kurilla declared Pakistan a “phenomenal partner” in the fight against IS-K, praising Islamabad’s operations along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

 

Gen. Kurilla revealed to the House Armed Services Committee that Pakistani operations, supported by US intelligence, had killed dozens of IS-K militants and captured multiple high-value individuals, including Mohammad Sharifullah, one of the masterminds of the Abbey Gate bombing in Kabul that claimed the lives of 13 American troops.

 

“The first person Munir called was me. He said, ‘I’ve caught him ready to extradite him back to the US. Please tell the Secretary of Defence and the President’”, he added.