ISLAMABAD:
The White House luncheon hosted by US President Donald Trump for Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir on Wednesday marked more than just a routine meeting — it signalled a major reset in US-Pakistan relations.
This major reset in the relations between the two countries includes a permanent and enduring bilateral partnership, such as cooperation in counter-terrorism, mutual trade in mines and minerals, and cryptocurrency.
President Trump’s praise for Pakistani political and military leadership, particularly Field Marshal Asim Munir, during his press conference after the meeting, clearly reflects the world’s growing confidence in the strong leadership and decision-making of the Pakistani leadership.
Donald Trump hosted Field Marshal Asim Munir at an unprecedented White House luncheon on Wednesday. Speaking to reporters at the Oval Office following the meeting, Trump said he was “honoured” to meet Field Marshal Asim.
Trump said that the primary reason for hosting Pakistan’s army chief was to “thank” him for avoiding further escalation with India in May and helping bring an end to tensions. “I wanted to thank him for not going into the war, just ending the war,” Trump said.
When asked what he wanted to achieve from the meeting, Trump told reporters: “Well, I stopped a war … I love Pakistan. This man was extremely influential in stopping it from the Pakistan side — he did. They were going at it — and they’re both nuclear countries. I got it stopped.”
Pakistan and India were embroiled in a four-day conflict, exchanging missiles and drones for the first time since both sides became nuclear powers in 1998. The conflict, dubbed Marka-e-Haq, occurred between May 7-10 and was sparked by Indian missile strikes inside Pakistan on May 7.
Against this backdrop, what makes the meeting between Field Marshal Asim Munir and President Donald Trump historically significant? This is because Pakistan has demonstrated its role as a key regional stabiliser in South Asia.
The meeting took place amid heightened regional tensions due to the Iran-Israel conflict. Amid this escalation, Iran says “Tashakur [Thank you] Pakistan” on the one hand, while on the other hand, Trump is also saying that it was an honour for him to meet Field Marshal Asim Munir.
At the White House media talk, Trump acknowledged that Iran situation was also discussed in the meeting and that Pakistan knew Iran better. He appreciated Pakistan’s perspective and positive role during the Iran-Israel war. Furthermore, Pakistan also has very excellent relations with China.
In the South Asia region, India’s relations with all the regional and many global players have been affected due to its biased mentality. India is clearly becoming isolated at the world stage because of its arrogance and belligerence. This became clearer after the Marka-e-Haq.
Pakistan is a clear winner in the Marka-e-Haq and emerges as a regional power in South Asia. India, on the other hand, is losing its global political capital for being an arrogant, stubborn and illogical war-mongering country.
It now emerges that Pakistan and India are hyphenated at the global level, and India’s attempts in the past to isolate Pakistan have failed miserably. After the Marka-e-Haq, the decades-old Kashmir issue has returned to the global limelight, and the US is ready to play its role in resolving this important issue.
In fact, Field Marshal Asim Munir’s visit to the US is historic and his meaningful meeting with President Trump, that too at a time of Iran-Israel tensions, has elevated Pakistan’s status as a source of regional stability.
