Trump to host Pakistan army chief at White House

By Aamir Latif

KARACHI, Pakistan (AA) - US President Donald Trump is scheduled to host Pakistan’s army chief, Gen. Asim Munir, for a working lunch at the White House on Wednesday, according to the president’s official schedule.

The meeting will take place in the Cabinet Room and will be closed to the press.

Pakistani officials, speaking to Anadolu on condition of anonymity, confirmed the engagement.

Munir, who was promoted to the rank of field marshal last month, is currently on a five-day official visit to the US — Pakistan’s largest export market.

The visit came amid rising tensions between the two South Asian rivals, following last month’s military standoff that brought them close to the brink of open conflict.

Addressing members of the Pakistani American community in Washington on Monday, Munir urged India to engage “as a civilized nation,” instead of seeking regional “hegemony.”

The meeting between Trump and Munir also follows the escalation of hostilities in the Middle East after Israeli strikes on Iran, further elevating the global security context.

It will mark the first high-level bilateral engagement between Islamabad and Washington since Trump returned to the White House in January.

India’s Foreign secretary Vikram Misri said Trump invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit the US after the conclusion of G7 Summit in Canada's Calgary, but Modi declined due to prior commitments.