US President Donald Trump is ready to host Chief of Staff (Coas), Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, for lunch in the White House today.
The meeting, which is listed on the President’s official schedule, will take place in the cabinet space at 1 p.m. 22 Pakistan Standard Time (PST) and is closed to the press, according to the US president’s public schedule.
The visit also follows last month’s airskirmish between India and Pakistan, who raised regional tensions. Field Marshall Munir is on a five-day official trip to the United States.
Recently promoted to five-star rank-Pakistan’s first such height since 1959-have Coas made headlines during his tour.
In a speech to the Pakistani American community in Washington, he urged India to abandon regional dominance and called for commitment “as a civilized nation.”
He rejected Indian accusations connecting Pakistan with the Pahagam attack and called them a pretext for cross-border strikes. “We would rather embrace martyrdom than accept this disgrace,” he said.
The event, held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Georgetown, withdrew strong support from the diaspora. Participants welcomed Field Marshal with rose petals and slogans, while Pakistan Tehreek-E-Insaf (PTI)-Authority outside called for democratic reforms and the release of imprisoned leaders.
Field Marshal also expressed Pakistan’s support for Iran in his war with Israel, while approving US efforts to step down the conflict. “We want this war to end right away,” he said.
Meanwhile, Gen Michael Kurilla, head of the US central command, previously called Pakistan had called a “phenomenal partner” in the fight against Daesh-Khorasan (Daesh-K).
Kurilla told legislators that Pakistani forces, aided by US intelligence, had killed dozens of Daesh-K terrorists and captured several top operatives, including Mohammad Sharifullah, a planner of Kabul’s bombing in Kabul in 2021, killing 13 US troops.
Kurilla said that Munir called him personally after the arrest and said, “I’ve caught him – ready to hand him back to the United States.” Sharifullah was then handed over to US authorities.
In comments on Congress, Kurilla Pakistan’s ongoing operations praised along the Afghan border and said the country continues to play a central role in regional terrorism.
Despite facing over 1,000 terrorist incidents last year, Kurilla said Pakistan “has been a phenomenal partner in the terrorist world.”
Coas, during his speech to the diaspora, also praised overseas Pakistanis for their financial contributions and dismissed concerns about brain drains.
