Washington: The head of the Army staff (COAS) also arrived in Washington on Sunday for an official five -day visit aimed at reinforcing military and strategic ties between Pakistan and the United States, diplomatic sources confirmed.
The visit, which the sources described as “mainly of bilateral nature”, is not officially linked to the celebrations of the 250th anniversary of the US Army. UU. On June 14, despite its moment.
The Munir Marshal did not attend the military parade, but some sources speculated that spent the last two days at the headquarters of the United States Central Command in Tampa, Florida. The Pakistani embassy in Washington, however, refused to confirm or deny this claim.
The sources said that the visit of the Army Chief aims to strengthen the military and strategic ties between Pakistan and the United States, with expected meetings with senior US officials, including the Secretary of Defense and the military commanders of the State and the high military of the United States.
PTI supporters protest outside the embassy ahead of the arrival of the Army Chief
Meanwhile, several PTI supporters organized a protest outside the Pakistan embassy on Saturday afternoon, asking for the restoration of what they described as “democracy without restrictions” in Pakistan.
The demonstration was advanced to the arrival of the COAS. “We believe that the Army Chief is in Washington, and that is why we are here,” said one of the protest organizers, linking the demonstration with the presence of the COA in the United States.
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The Pakistani embassy refused to confirm or deny the visit at the time of protest.
The army chief trip comes at a particularly delicate moment, following Israeli air attacks in Iran.
Michael Kugelman, an analyst at South Asia based in Washington, said the visit is complicated by regional tensions.
“Pakistan wants to cultivate the support of the United States, but has condemned Israeli attacks and is working to strengthen ties with Tehran,” Kugelman said. “For General Munir to be in the capital of the closest ally of Israel and the main adversary of Iran at such a tense moment could lead to some awkward conversations.”
He added that the Middle Eastern Crisis can also limit how totally American officials can commit to the visitor Pakistani delegation.
Kugelman said that anti-terrorist cooperation will probably dominate the agenda, and Munir field marshal can try to take advantage of recent improvements in bilateral ties after the high the fire of India-Pakistan. However, the broader efforts to rethink the security association would continue to be a “hard sale,” he warned.
Shuja Nawaz, a distinguished member in the center of southern Asia of the Atlantic Council, stressed the strategic imbalance in the regional priorities of the United States.
“Washington sees Pakistan in China’s camp but as a useful anti -terrorism base,” Nawaz said.
“See greater trade and markets for its technology and defense materials in India. This is an unequal situation.”
Posted in Dawn, June 16, 2025
