Trump says I love Pakistan, credits Asim Munir for avoiding war

June 19, 2025 (MLN): In a historic first, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir met with US President Donald Trump at the White House on Wednesday, marking a rare high-level military engagement between Pakistan and the United States.

Addressing reporters after the two-hour meeting, Trump praised Munir for exercising restraint during the May military standoff with India. “I love Pakistan,” Trump said. “I wanted to thank him personally for not going to war with India. It could have been nuclear, and both sides chose peace. That’s leadership.”

The interaction came just days after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi publicly dismissed claims of US mediation. However, Trump firmly contradicted that stance, stating, “I stopped a war.”

While prior meetings between Pakistani military leaders and US presidents occurred only when generals held political power, Asim Munir’s reception was unprecedented for a serving army chief with no political office.

Sources revealed the meeting was not arranged through conventional diplomatic pathways but was the result of behind-the-scenes efforts involving lobbyists, business leaders, and Republican-linked networks in Washington.

Talks reportedly touched on counter-terrorism, crypto-related engagements, and regional stability, including Kashmir.

The meeting's confidential planning became public only a day prior through Trump’s official schedule. Analysts called it a major moment in Pakistan-US ties, with implications beyond current geopolitical tensions.

“This is not just about Iran or Israel,” said Michael Kugelman, a South Asia analyst. “Trump sees Pakistan as a key player in regional stability and innovation,” according to media reports. 

The event triggered sharp reactions in India. During the G7 summit, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri insisted that the May ceasefire was a direct outcome of military-to-military dialogue, denying any third-party role.

However, Trump’s remarks appeared to challenge that narrative directly.

Meanwhile, former Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari welcomed the engagement, calling it a step forward for bilateral relations.

Responding to India’s denial of US involvement, he commented on X: “Indians are just really very sore losers at this point.”

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