In an unprecedented encounter, US President Donald Trump welcomed Field Marshal Asim Munir, the head of Pakistan’s army, to the White House on Wednesday. The meeting could potentially exacerbate a dispute with India over Trump’s assertion that he prevented the conflict between the nuclear-armed South Asian adversaries last month.
The luncheon was the first time a U.S. president had invited the leader of Pakistan’s army, who is considered to be the most influential person in the nation, to the White House without prominent civilian Pakistani officials.
Trump claimed that meeting Munir was an honor and that they spoke about Iran, which he claimed Pakistan understood better than others. Trump told reporters that he had expressed gratitude to Munir for bringing the war with India to a conclusion.
