Pakistan’s Army Chief Asim Munir, is one of the most controversial figures in Islamabad. At home, he has faced criticism for tightening military’s grip over the country’s political scene, suppressing the opposition, and even putting curbs on media freedom. Yet, despite this troubled image, Munir has now taken centre stage in revamping Pakistan’s ties with Washington.
Munir’s US outreach – A strategic move
In recent months, Munir has visited the US twice. Once in June 2025 which included a rare private lunch with US President Donald Trump at the White House. This meeting was considered symbolic for Pak as it was a clear signal of a renewed interest by the US in Pakistan’s military leadership and cooperation.
Now coming to Munir’s recent visit to the US, he was seen attending the retirement ceremony of US CENTCOM chief General Michael Kurilla in Tampa. He praised Kurilla for boosting military ties and invited US Joint Chiefs Chairman General Dan Caine to visit Pakistan. Munir also met defence chiefs from other countries and addressed the Pakistani community, urging them to stay optimistic about Pakistan’s future and help attract investment.
For a military leader who is under fire at home, Munir’s growing role in US-Pakistan relations, clearly marks a striking turn in his fortunes.
Trump’s sudden interest in Pak
India and Pakistan are currently holding very different positions when it comes to their relationship with the US, a shift that could change the balance of power in South Asia. The US has set a lower 19% tariff on goods coming from Pakistan, while hitting India with a steep 50% tariff.
Trump has also promised to help Pakistan develop what he says are its “massive oil reserves.” Pakistan, in return, is offering more investment opportunities to the US in hopes of reviving its struggling economy, a Bloomberg report said.
The report further states that this sudden interest in Pakistan could be a result of a “charm offensive concocted by Pakistan’s senior generals”. They have used counterterrorism cooperation, business links with Trump’s allies, and deals in energy, minerals, and cryptocurrency, all paired with praises for the White House.
Munir’s ‘counterterrorism’ and ‘security cooperation’ push
Munir has repeatedly highlighted and focused on making Pakistan an important partner in the counterterrorism work carried out by the US, especially against groups like ISIS-K and the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). In fact,
following Munir’s recent visit, US State Department on Monday declared the Balochistan Liberation Army as a foreign terror group.
Munir, during his US visits, has spoken about Pakistan’s military actions, including Maarka-e-Haq and Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, and highlighted how they helped in the arrest of Mohammad Sharifullah, the ISIS-K leader behind the 2021 Kabul airport attack.
US CENTCOM Commander General Michael Kurilla called Pakistan a “phenomenal partner” in countering terrorism, mentioning that Munir personally informed him about the arrest and offered extradition. Reports suggest that the US could be now considering giving Pakistan advanced military gear, such as armored vehicles and night vision equipment, showing signs of renewed defense cooperation, according to GlobalNewsWire.