Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, General Asim Munir, is currently on a high-profile visit to the United States — his second U.S. trip in less than two months — in what is being seen as a rare and notable uptick in diplomatic and military engagement between Washington and Islamabad.
The trip, which underscores a steady improvement in bilateral relations, comes at a time when the two countries are seeking deeper cooperation on regional and global security matters.
According to a statement from the Pakistani army’s media wing issued on Sunday, General Munir met with the US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Caine, for discussions on “matters of mutual professional interest.”
While the official statement did not disclose the exact date of Munir’s arrival in the United States, it confirmed that he extended an invitation to General Caine to visit Pakistan.
Munir’s US Trip
As part of his itinerary, Munir travelled to Tampa, Florida, where he attended the retirement ceremony of outgoing US Central Command (CENTCOM) chief General Michael E. Kurilla, as well as the change-of-command ceremony welcoming Adm. Brad Cooper as the new CENTCOM commander.
Munir praised Gen. Kurilla for his “exemplary leadership” and “invaluable contributions” toward strengthening Pakistan-US military cooperation, while expressing optimism about future collaboration under Adm. Cooper’s command to address shared security challenges.
On the sidelines of these events, the Pakistani army chief engaged with defence chiefs from several friendly nations, held high-level talks with senior US political and military leaders, and interacted with members of the Pakistani-American community.
This visit follows months of improved ties between Washington and Islamabad, partly credited to U.S. President Donald Trump’s role in brokering a ceasefire between Pakistan and India after a tense four-day conflict in May.
In June, Trump hosted Munir for a rare luncheon at the White House — a gesture widely interpreted as a diplomatic breakthrough.
However, the renewed goodwill has been coupled with trade developments, including Trump’s imposition of a 19% tariff on Pakistani goods, alongside a steeper 50% duty on Indian imports.
(With inputs from IBNS)
