US President Donald Trump hosted Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, General Asim Munir, for lunch at the White House on Wednesday in a significant diplomatic development. The meeting, held in the Cabinet Room at 1 PM (local time), comes amid heightened regional tensions following recent India-Pakistan hostilities and the escalating Israel-Iran conflict. President Trump returned early from the G7 Leaders' Summit in Canada to accommodate the meeting, underlining its geopolitical importance. Officials in Islamabad have termed the White House invitation a major diplomatic win, especially given Munir’s recent elevation to the rare five-star rank in Pakistan, last conferred in 1959.

General Munir’s visit to the United States also included a public outreach to the Pakistani-American community and key security meetings with US military leadership. Addressing a large gathering in Washington’s Georgetown area, Munir rejected allegations linking Pakistan to the Pahalgam terror attack and accused India of attempting to violate international norms. The India-Pakistan military standoff, triggered by precision strikes on May 7, concluded with a ceasefire agreement after four days of hostilities. Despite protests from opposition supporters outside his hotel event, Munir reinforced Pakistan’s support for Iran in the Israel conflict while simultaneously backing US de-escalation efforts in the region.

A central focus of Munir’s visit has been strengthening US-Pakistan counterterrorism ties. General Michael Kurilla, head of US Central Command, hailed Pakistan as a key partner in combating the Islamic State Khorasan (IS-K). He credited Pakistani intelligence-backed operations along the Afghanistan border for capturing high-value IS-K operatives, including Sharifullah, linked to the 2021 Kabul airport bombing. Kurilla confirmed that Sharifullah was extradited to the US following a direct call from Munir, who offered full cooperation. US officials have praised Pakistan’s growing role in regional stability and counterterrorism.