Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, General Asim Munir, has arrived in the United States for his second trip in under two months, reflecting a visible boost in Islamabad–Washington relations.
According to a statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), General Munir met with the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman, General John Dan Caine, and extended an invitation for him to visit Pakistan. Discussions focused on areas of mutual professional interest, covering regional stability and defense cooperation.
During his visit, the Army Chief attended a formal ceremony marking the retirement of US Central Command chief, General Michael E. Kurilla, and the assumption of command by Admiral Brad Cooper. Speaking at the event, General Munir voiced optimism for continued collaboration in tackling shared security challenges.
This trip comes shortly after General Munir was hosted at a private White House lunch by US President Donald Trump. Known as Pakistan’s most influential figure in shaping foreign policy, national security, and even economic direction, Munir’s engagement with US leadership underscores the evolving strategic partnership.
Bilateral ties, once strained, have been showing steady improvement in recent months. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has publicly commended President Trump for mediating a ceasefire with India following a brief border escalation in May — a role India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has notably declined to acknowledge.
In another positive step, the Trump administration recently reduced tariffs on Pakistani exports, offering more favorable trade terms than those extended to regional competitors including Bangladesh, India, and Sri Lanka.
