Kolkata: On June 18, US President Donald Trump had praiseworthy things to say about Asim Munir, the controversial Pakistan Army Chief. He complimented Munir for his role in preventing an escalation of the India-Pakistan conflict as he hosted the latter for a lunch meeting at the White House.
Trump said, “Reason I had him here was I wanted to thank him for not going into the war and ending it.” It was the first time a US President had hosted the Pakistan Army Chief at the White House with the latter not being unaccompanied by other civilian officials from the latter country. Notably, the military has had a great influence over the policies of Pakistan since the inception of the country.
The meeting between Trump and Munir took place amid heightened tensions between Iran and Israel, with the two countries engaged in armed conflict. The US is an interested party in the ongoing war and a strong ally of Israel, while Pakistan is known for being an ally of Iran.
While speaking with reporters, President Trump said that he thanked Munir for ending the India-Pakistan war and he also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whom he talked to on the night of June 17. He said, “Two very smart people decided not to keep going with that war; that could have been a nuclear war.” Notably, the armed conflict between India and Pakistan ended on May 10.
‘I stopped a war, I love Pakistan’
Trump also touched upon the relationship that Pakistan shares with Iran and said, “They (Pakistani leadership) know Iran very well, better than most. They’re not happy about anything. It’s not that they’re bad with Israel. They know them both actually, but they probably, maybe, they know Iran better, but they see what’s going on and he agreed with me.”
Pakistan has criticised Israel for its airstrikes against Iran, saying they threaten regional stability and violate international law. The lunch meeting between Trump and Munir took place at the White House’s Cabinet Room and it lasted for more than an hour. The Pakistan Army Chief was accompanied by ISI head Lt Gen Asim Malik in the meeting.
Earlier, when Trump was asked about the things he was looking forward to achieving from meeting Munir, he said, “Well, I stopped a war. I love Pakistan. I think Modi is a fantastic man. I spoke to him last night. We’re going to make a trade deal with Modi of India.”
Asim Munir criticised in the US
A video clip reportedly surfaced showing protesters confronting Asim Munir outside the Four Seasons Hotel in Washington. In the video, the protesters can be heard shouting expletives and accusing Munir of being a dictator and mass murderer. The video captures protesters voicing their dissent when Munir’s motorcade arrived at the hotel.
Modi-Trump spoke over the phone
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 18 spoke to Trump over the phone and told him that no mediation or trade deal led to the ceasefire between India and Pakistan last month and that Operation Sindoor was halted on Islamabad’s request. He also stressed that India has never accepted and will not accept third-party mediation in its internal matters in the future.
