Donald Trump hosts General Asim Munir for White House lunch, credits him for ending India-Pakistan war; here¡¯s what we know
President Trump hosted Pakistan¡¯s Army Chief Asim Munir for a rare private lunch at the White House, thanking him for de-escalating recent tensions with India. The meeting also touched on Iran, regional security, and a Nobel Peace Prize suggestion
US President Donald Trump hosted Pakistan¡¯s Chief of Army Staff, General Asim Munir, for a private luncheon at the White House on Wednesday. The meeting, held in the Cabinet Room, was a rare occasion where the powerful military chief was invited without accompanying senior civilian officials from Pakistan.
Donald Trump | Credit: X
President Trump used the opportunity to express his appreciation for Munir¡¯s role in helping avoid a further escalation between India and Pakistan following a recent military standoff.
Trump acknowledges Munir¡¯s role in de-escalating India-Pakistan tensions
Addressing reporters, President Trump said, ¡°Reason I had him here was I wanted to thank him for not going into the war and ending it.¡± He added that both General Munir and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi showed restraint, avoiding what he called a potentially nuclear conflict.
¡°Two very smart people decided not to keep going with that war; that could have been a nuclear war,¡± Trump said, referring to the military conflict that ended on May 10 after four days of cross-border drone and missile exchanges.
Discussions included Iran and regional stability
President Trump noted that Iran was also a subject of discussion during the lunch. ¡°They (Pakistani leadership) know Iran very well, better than most,¡± he said, acknowledging Islamabad¡¯s long-standing ties with Tehran. ¡°They¡¯re not happy about anything. It¡¯s not that they¡¯re bad with Israel. They know them both actually... but they see what¡¯s going on and he agreed with me,¡± Trump told reporters.
Pakistan has openly condemned Israel¡¯s airstrikes on Iran, calling them violations of international law and a threat to regional peace.
General Munir was accompanied by the head of Pakistan¡¯s intelligence agency, ISI chief Lt Gen Asim Malik, during the meeting.
Trump, Modi discuss Operation Sindoor and trade
President Trump also revealed that he had spoken to Prime Minister Modi on the same day. The Indian Prime Minister held a 35-minute conversation with Trump, during which they primarily discussed Operation Sindoor, India¡¯s military response to the April Pahalgam terror attack.
However, Modi reportedly clarified that topics such as the India-US trade deal or any form of US mediation in India-Pakistan affairs were not part of their conversation.
White House notes Nobel nomination request from Munir
Earlier in the day, White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly said General Munir had called for President Trump to be nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize. The recommendation came after the US President¡¯s role in preventing what could have been a nuclear war between India and Pakistan last month.
Trump commented on the recognition, saying, ¡°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.¡±
The White House meeting underscored both rising tensions and careful diplomacy in South Asia, with Trump positioning himself as a key intermediary.
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Nancy Jaiswal is a journalist who started her career in reporting and has covered both hard and soft news. From serious city news developments to lighthearted lifestyle pieces, she has written on almost everything hapenning in India (except maybe alien invasions¡ªyet!). For her, writing isn¡¯t just work; it¡¯s a passion, an obsession, and sometimes the reason she forgets to reply to texts.
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