U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed a keen interest in forging a "mutually beneficial" trade relationship with Pakistan, based on strategic convergence and common interests, a statement issued Thursday by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Pakistan Army's media wing, said.
The statement was made after a high-profile meeting between President Trump and Pakistan Chief of Army Staff, General Asim Munir, at the White House on Wednesday. The ISPR said both sides also discussed ways for bilateral cooperation in the fields of counterterrorism, economic growth, artificial intelligence, energy, emerging technologies, cryptocurrency, and resource extraction.
"President Trump showed keen interest in establishing a trade partnership between Pakistan and the US on the basis of long-term strategic convergence and mutual interests," the ISPR stated.
The two leaders also discussed undertaking efforts to further counterterrorism cooperation during the talks. The ISPR added that the talks were all-inclusive, bringing to the table a wide range of strategic and regional matters.
In Pakistan's first formal response to the meeting, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif termed the development as a milestone in bilateral relations. In a tweet on X, he wrote, "This is the first time a US President has invited and hosted a Pakistani Army Chief." Asif additionally dubbed the encounter "the most critical turning point in the 78-year history of relations," attributing the diplomatic triumph to the "hybrid model of governance" in Pakistan—comprising a combination of the civilian government and the military.
This view represents a discernible departure from previous positions taken by Pakistani political parties, which have tended to urge the army not to intervene in politics.
As per the ISPR, General Munir thanked Trump for his interference in brokering a ceasefire in a recent crisis between India and Pakistan. "The Chief of Army Staff relayed the deep gratitude of the Government and people of Pakistan for President Trump's positive and outcome-oriented role in bringing about a ceasefire between Pakistan and India," it added.
The statement also commended Trump's "statesmanship" and his grasp of intricate global issues. Trump, in return, appreciated Pakistan's continued devotion to regional stability and commended the vigor of its counter-terrorism efforts.
Both sides reaffirmed that they continue their commitment to mutual cooperation in security affairs, particularly counterterrorism, the statement further said.
The meeting was also joined by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Representative for the Middle East Steve Witkoff. General Munir was joined by Pakistan's National Security Adviser, Lt Gen Asim Malik, who also serves as the head of the ISI, which is the country's top intelligence agency. Interestingly, no senior Pakistani civilian official was included in the delegation.
Leaders also discussed the current tensions between Iran and Israel. Both of them, it was said by the ISPR, agreed that it was essential to find a solution to the war. Trump praised Munir's leadership, particularly at such a tumultuous time in the region.
As a gesture of the increasing warmth in relations, General Munir had extended an invitation to Trump to visit Pakistan officially on behalf of the government. Though initially intended to last an hour, the meeting went on for more than two hours, pointing to what the ISPR had described as the "depth and cordiality" of the discussion.
This interaction represents an important milestone in the continued efforts to strengthen the long-standing relationship between Pakistan and the United States based on mutual interests of peace, stability, and prosperity," the statement added.
In a different message, Trump averred that it was an "honour" to receive the Pakistani military leader at a luncheon that took place in the Cabinet Room of the White House — an unprecedented offer for a Pakistani army chief who is not President. Even though chiefs such as Ayub Khan, Zia ul-Haq, and Pervez Musharraf had been received in the same manner, they were both heads of state and military leaders.
Addressing after the luncheon, Trump thanked Munir for efforts towards de-escalating tensions with India. "I was privileged to meet him (Field Marshal Munir) today," Trump stated. "I invited him in order to thank him for not declaring war. He should be appreciated for facilitating the ceasefire.
In response to questions regarding Iran-Israel relations, Trump had the following to say, "They (Pakistan) know Iran better than most, and they're not happy about anything. It's not that they're bad with Israel. They know them both, actually, but they know Iran better.
The two leaders' meeting is viewed by analysts as a turning point in U.S.-Pakistan relations, strained since Washington's pullout from Afghanistan in 2021 that it attributed, partially, to Pakistan's failure to help stabilize the region.
The Trump-Munir meeting also comes after increased tensions with India, with Trump earlier claiming credit for de-escalating the tensions — an act that Islamabad has accepted.
Meanwhile, India has stated that both nations' Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) agreed to cease hostilities across land, air, and sea on May 10, underlining New Delhi’s version of the ceasefire terms.
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