3 hours ago
US President Trump met Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir, discussing the Iran-Israel conflict and South Asian stability. The meeting, held in the Cabinet Room, was followed by a formal luncheon.
The private luncheon was held in the Cabinet Room.(File Photo: X/Reuters)
New Delhi,UPDATED: Jun 19, 2025 02:53 IST
US President Donald Trump met with Pakistan's Army Chief, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, at the White House. During their discussion, the escalating Iran-Israel conflict and broader regional stability were central topics. Speaking to reporters afterward, President Trump stated that he believes Pakistan, with its deeper understanding of Iran, could play a key role in de-escalating the situation.
"We spoke about the Iran-Israel issue. Pakistan understands Iran better than us — they’re a key player in regional peace," Trump said.
The meeting, held in the Cabinet Room, was followed by a formal luncheon. A White House spokesperson confirmed that the event was arranged to recognise Pakistan’s contribution to peace in South Asia.
"It’s an honour to meet Field Marshal Asim Munir. I thanked him for not letting things spiral into war,” Trump said, referring to the recent cross-border flare-up between the nuclear-armed neighbours, India and Pakistan, which was resolved through diplomacy.
Both leaders also discussed future economic ties. President Trump confirmed that the US is in early discussions on a trade agreement involving Pakistan and India.
"We’re in early talks on trade — Pakistan’s concerns are being heard," he told reporters, without providing further details on the timeline or structure of the deal.
MODI ASSERTS INDIA-PAK TRUCE WAS ACHIEVED WITHOUT US INVOLVEMENT
Just hours before the meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a 35-minute phone call with Trump to firmly clarify that the ceasefire following the May 7-10 military standoff had been achieved through direct communication between the Indian and Pakistani militaries - not through any external mediation.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said PM Modi reiterated that New Delhi has never accepted third-party involvement in its bilateral issues with Islamabad and never will.
TRUMP CREDITS US DIPLOMACY FOR EASING INDIA-PAK TENSIONS
Despite India's assertion, Trump insisted his intervention was decisive. Speaking to reporters ahead of Munir's visit, Trump said both countries were "going at it" and credited his outreach with defusing the crisis. He praised both Prime Minister Modi and General Munir for their roles, calling it a collaborative success, but one shaped significantly by US diplomacy.
"I stopped a war between Pakistan and India. I love Pakistan," Trump said. "Modi is a fantastic man. I spoke to him last night. We are going to make a trade deal with Modi of India."
He added, "This man [Munir] was extremely influential in stopping the war from the Pakistani side, and Modi from the Indian side. They were going at it-and they're both nuclear countries. I stopped a war between two major nuclear nations, but I don't think I've seen a single story written about it."
The four-day conflict between India and Pakistan in early May was sparked by the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 people - most of them tourists - were killed.
In response, India launched retaliatory strikes on nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) as part of Operation Sindoor. Pakistan countered with unprovoked attacks targeting civilian areas and military infrastructure, all of which were thwarted by India's air defence systems.
India has maintained that the de-escalation was the result of existing backchannel military communications. Foreign Secretary Misri also dismissed suggestions of a US-India trade dialogue or any request for mediation during the standoff.
Published By:
Satyam Singh
Published On:
Jun 19, 2025
