US President Donald Trump is set to meet Pakistan’s Army Chief, General Syed Asim Munir, in Washington amid rising tensions in the Middle East. The lunch meeting is scheduled for 1:00 PM (Washington time) on Wednesday in the White House’s Cabinet Room, as per the president’s public schedule.
The meeting comes shortly after the White House dismissed reports about Munir being invited to the US Army’s 250th anniversary event on June 14. During his five-day official visit, General Munir is also expected to hold talks with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, according to Pakistani newspaper Dawn.
The timing of Munir’s visit is critical. With the Israel-Iran conflict intensifying, Pakistan’s strategic positioning as a neighbor to Iran makes it a vital geopolitical player. A US ally, Pakistan has closed its air and land routes with Iran, which could affect civilians and supplies across border regions. The most significant border crossings affected are the Gabd-Rimdan point in Balochistan’s Gwadar district and the Taftan crossing in Chaghi district.
However, Munir’s visit has sparked protests. Pakistani citizens and Pakistani-Americans supporting former PM Imran Khan’s PTI party demonstrated outside the Pakistani embassy and Four Seasons Hotel in Washington. Protesters chanted slogans accusing Munir of authoritarianism and human rights violations, calling for the restoration of democracy in Pakistan.
This visit also marks Munir’s first US trip since the India-Pakistan military escalation following a teror atack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which kil*ed 26 civilians. Though tensions cooled after Pakistan proposed a ceasefire, Trump later claimed he used trade as leverage to broker peace, a claim denied by India.
