In a historic first, U.S. President Donald Trump held a one-on-one meeting with Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, at the White House’s Cabinet Room on Wednesday, marking a rare diplomatic milestone between the two nations.
Following the high-level talks, Trump addressed reporters and touched upon several pressing geopolitical issues, including the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict and tensions in South Asia.
“They [Pakistan] know Iran very well, better than most, and they’re not happy about anything. It’s not that they’re bad with Israel. They know them both, actually, but they know Iran better. He [Field Marshal Munir] agreed with me,” said President Trump.
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In a striking revelation, President Trump also thanked COAS Munir and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for avoiding war, stating that both leaders showed “remarkable restraint” in recent escalations.
“These two very smart people decided not to keep going with a war that could have been a nuclear war,” Trump said, referencing both Pakistan and India as “two big nuclear powers.”
Trump confirmed that the United States is currently working on separate trade deals with both Pakistan and India, suggesting a shift in Washington’s engagement strategy in South Asia.
“We’re going to make a trade deal with Modi of India and one with Pakistan,” Trump stated, adding, “I love Pakistan. I think Modi is a fantastic man.”
The visit marks the first time a serving Pakistani Army Chief has met a sitting U.S. president in an official, non-military or non-political capacity.
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Shortly after Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri claimed that Modi told Trump during a 35-minute phone call that “the U.S. has no role in mediating with Pakistan”, Trump publicly rejected the assertion.
“Well, I stopped a war,” Trump told reporters on the White House lawn. “That’s a fact.”
The bold statement is likely to stir diplomatic conversations, particularly in New Delhi, where India maintains a policy of bilateral handling of Indo-Pak conflicts, especially over Kashmir.
