Washington: As Chief of Field Mantelada of the Army staff (COAS), Munir also concluded his four -day visit to the United States on Friday, the diplomatic choreography surrounding the trip offered new clues about a quiet realignment in relations between the United States and Pakistan, and pointed out Washington’s interest in assigning Islamabad a new regional role.
The Trump administration, who welcomed the Munir Marshal with little characteristic warmth, seems to want Pakistan to act as a possible peacekeeping in the ongoing conflict of Iran-Israel. President Trump hinted at this during a White House lunch, saying that the Pakistani “know they will be better than most” and that they were not bad “they were not bad with Israel either.”
The next Coas stop, Turkiye, added weight to this emerging role. He flew directly from Washington to attend a conference of the Islamic Cooperation Organization (IIC) on the crisis of Iran-Israel, which underlined Pakistan’s disposition to be seen as a regional stabilizer.
Diplomatic sources in Washington say that, although Pakistan is expected to involve Iran, the Trump administration will deal with Israel since Islamabad does not recognize the Jewish state.
The rare lunch of the White House of the Army Chief, the meetings point to a thaw in bilateral ties
The Munir Marshal tour marked the highest level commitment between the Pakistani army and the Trump administration since Trump’s emphatic 2024 returns to the White House.
His itinerary included strategic meetings in the Pentagon and Capitol Hill, which culminated in a private lunch in the White House Cabinet room, personally organized by President Trump. Such an honor rarely extends to foreign military officers, generally reserved to visit government leaders.
After the White House lunch, the Pakistani officials were happy enough to eliminate certain articles of the remaining schedule. “They listened to us in the most powerful room in Washington,” said an official. “That was the message we wanted to take home.”
The army chief discussions with senior US officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump’s Iran negotiator, Steve Witkoff, covered family land: regional security, anti -terrorism and strategic cooperation. But they were the optics, especially the White House invitation, which pointed out a dramatic thaw after years of diplomatic cold.
The visit followed a tense confrontation of India-Pakistan in May, which Trump states that he helped to deactivate, although New Delhi has denied any external role. In more general terms, it was developed in a context of growing tensions in the Middle East, where Israel’s attacks against Iran have traveled the region. The concurrent ties of Pakistan with Tehran and Riad position in a unique way.
A few hours after the departure of the Munir Marshal, Islamabad confirmed that he was nominating President Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize 2026, citing his role in the prevention of a possible nuclear conflict between India and Pakistan.
The announcement landed well in Washington, reinforcing Trump’s foreign policy narrative. In New Delhi, however, it caused restlessness. Indian officials have consistently minimized both the crisis and any external participation in the reduction of it.
Trump, without flinching, repeated his statements before and after the White House lunch, describing how he helped avoid “a possible nuclear war” in one of the most volatile regions in the world. The Pakistani diplomats welcomed these comments, particularly their reiteration that the Kashmir conflict is still unresolved and dangerous: views aligned with the long -standing position of Islamabad.
The most significant for Pakistan, Trump once again offered to mediate in back, breaking with years of US policy restriction. While India firmly rejected the suggestion, the offer was music for Islamabad’s ears.
Long -term trust and plans
While in Washington, the Munir Marshal addressed two selected groups: one that includes Pakistani American professionals and the other of American academics and journalists. The participants in both sessions noticed the confidence and clarity of the general. His expressions and body language, they said, reflected a man focused on a long -term plan.
On one occasion, Coa even hinted that he hoped to bring Pakistan political and diplomatic stability “before leaving”, adding, with a smile, that this could happen “by 2035”.
It remains to be seen if this visit marks a deeper restart or simply a tactical recalibration. But some trends are evident: Pakistan’s military and civil leadership seems more coordinated in their messages, and Washington’s tone reflects a broader change in the way it sees southern Asia.
Posted in Dawn, on June 22, 2025
