Pakistan and the United States have recently seen an uptick in bilateral relations, particularly after US President Donald Trump brokered a ceasefire between Islamabad and New Delhi following a four-day military escalation in May.
Since then, Trump has frequently highlighted his role in preventing what he described as a possible nuclear confrontation between the two neighbors.
On June 19, President Trump extended an unprecedented invitation to Pakistan’s Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir for a historic luncheon at the White House. Since then, the American president has praised Munir on several occasions, even referring to him as “my favorite quarterback.”
Field Marshal Munir became the first serving Army Chief of Staff to have a face-to-face meeting with a sitting US president after meeting with the US president. The occasion also marked the first time that a serving Pakistani army chief was formally received at this level, without holding political office or ruling under martial law.
Previous military rulers, such as Field Marshal Ayub Khan, General Ziaul Haq and General Pervez Musharraf, met American presidents only after they had assumed the role of head of state.
Analysts believe that, despite decades of military cooperation between the two nations, the optics of the meeting were unprecedented.
It’s “honored” to know the quarterback
In his first comments after lunch at the White House with Field Marshal Munir, Trump told the media that “it was an honor to meet you.”
“The reason I had him (Field Marshal Munir) here was because I wanted to thank him for not going to war. [with India]. And I want to thank PM [Narendra] Modi too, who left a few days ago.”
Earlier, when asked by reporters on the White House lawn about the diplomatic outcomes expected from the meeting with Field Marshal Munir, Trump remarked: “This man was extremely influential in stopping the fighting between India and Pakistan from the Pakistani side.”
‘Exceptional human being, inspiring personality’
On June 25, the American president, while speaking on the India-Pakistan ceasefire, described a conversation with Pakistan’s army chief and praised him in personal terms.
He said: “I actually had the general, it was really very impressive, the general of Pakistan was in my office last week.” On the same day, the US president described the army chief as “an exceptional human being and an inspiring personality”.
“A great, great guy”
On September 25, before Trump met Prime Minister Shehbaz and COAS during his visit to the United States, the president called the army chief “a great, great guy.”
Speaking to reporters before the meeting, Trump said a “great leader” would come to the White House.
“The Prime Minister of Pakistan and the Field Marshal are coming… [he’s] “He’s a great guy, and so is the prime minister,” he told reporters.
‘A very important guy’
On September 29, during a speech at an event in Quantico, Virginia, Trump mentioned the head of the Army.
“He is a very important guy in Pakistan… and I didn’t even realize, no matter how beautifully he said it to a group of people who were with him… he said that this man (Trump) saved millions of lives.
“I was very honored, I loved the way he said it,” said the American president.
Praises COAS for ceasefire proposal in Gaza
On September 30, at a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz and Field Marshal Munir for their support of a ceasefire proposal in Gaza.
“The Prime Minister and Field Marshal of Pakistan…were with us from the beginning. In fact, they just issued a statement that they fully believe in this pact,” Trump said.
“They support this 100 percent,” he said, referring to the ceasefire proposal.
“My favorite quarterback”
On October 13, in what was arguably Trump’s most unforgettable comment about Field Marshal Munir, Trump called him his “favorite quarterback.”
Thanking several world leaders for their role in the Gaza peace plan, Trump also did the same for Pakistan, saying: “Prime Minister Sharif of Pakistan, and I also have to say my favorite field marshal of Pakistan, who is not here, but the prime minister is here and they will salute him.”
“Where are you?” he asked as he turned to look at the world leaders gathered behind. Noticing Prime Minister Shehbaz behind, Trump called him and asked him to say a few words.
Field Marshal and PM Shehbaz are ‘great people’
That same week, on October 26, the President of the United States, on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit, made the following comments about the COAS while discussing the dispute between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Speaking about Prime Minister Shehbaz and Field Marshal Munir, Trump said: “I know them both… Pakistan’s Field Marshal and the Prime Minister are great people, and I know we will get this done quickly. That started a few days ago.”
Praises COAS for its role in Pakistan-India ceasefire
A day earlier, Trump, at a dinner with business leaders during his trip to Japan, praised the COAS and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, while taking credit for brokering the May 10 ceasefire between India and Pakistan.
“If you look at India and Pakistan, they realized they were doing it,” he said. “Seven new, beautiful planes were shot down.
“I told [Indian] Prime Minister Modi and I told the Prime Minister [Shehbaz Sharif]very good man, a very good man and the quarterback [Asim Munir] In Pakistan… I said, ‘Look, we’re not going to do any trade if you’re going to fight,’” Trump said.
‘Great fighter’
On October 29 (today), Trump praised the COAS, calling it a “great fighter”, while talking about India and Pakistan at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), which will be held in Gyeongju, South Korea, this year.
In his remarks, he said, “I am signing a trade deal with India and I have great respect and love, as you know, for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. We have a great relationship,” he said.
“Likewise, the prime minister of Pakistan is a great guy, and the quarterback… they have a quarterback. You know why he’s a quarterback? He’s a great fighter. He really is. He’s a great guy, too.”
Header image: Collage of US President Donald Trump (L) and COAS Field Marshal Munir (R). — AFP/ISPR
