Pakistan army chief meets top US civil-military leaders in second visit in two months

Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, is on an official visit to the United States, marking his second trip to Washington in less than two months.

The visit underscores a growing thaw in U.S.-Pakistan ties, coming amid a leadership transition at U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) and heightened tensions in the Middle East.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), military's media wing, Munir has held high-level engagements with senior political and military officials, as well as members of the Pakistani diaspora.

CENTCOM ceremony

In Tampa, Munir attended the retirement ceremony of outgoing CENTCOM Commander Gen. Michael E. Kurilla and the change of command, in which Adm. Brad Cooper assumed the post.

The army chief praised Kurilla’s “exemplary leadership” and his contributions to strengthening bilateral military cooperation. He extended his best wishes to Cooper, expressing confidence in continued collaboration to address shared security challenges.

During his July visit to Pakistan, Kurilla was awarded the Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Military), further cementing defense ties between the two countries. Kurilla has described Pakistan as a “phenomenal partner” in counterterrorism efforts.

According to ISPR, Munir also met with Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine, discussing matters of mutual professional interest. He invited Caine to visit Pakistan.

On the sidelines, the army chief interacted with chiefs of defense from friendly nations.

In an interactive session, Munir urged Pakistani expatriates to remain confident in Pakistan’s future and contribute to attracting investment.

The diaspora reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Pakistan’s progress and development.

Second visit in short span

Munir’s trip follows a high-profile lunch with President Donald Trump in June, during which they discussed counterterrorism cooperation, trade, and a ceasefire Trump claims to have brokered in May that ended four days of cross-border hostilities between India and Pakistan.

India has disputed Trump’s account, maintaining the ceasefire was reached through direct military-to-military talks.

Analysts say the timing of Munir’s return to the U.S. — less than two months later — reflects a deliberate push by both sides to deepen military and strategic ties. Washington sees Pakistan as a key partner in countering threats such as ISIS-Khorasan, which operates in South and Central Asia.

Pakistani intelligence reportedly assisted in the capture of the mastermind behind the 2021 Kabul airport bombing, a key episode in bilateral intelligence cooperation.

Economic dimension

While security remains central, Munir is also expected to push for deeper economic engagement. Recent discussions have touched on U.S. market access, rare earth mineral projects, cryptocurrency cooperation, and tariff reductions.

Under Pakistan’s geoeconomics policy, Islamabad has sought to shift ties with Washington from a purely security-based framework to a broader economic partnership. The U.S. president’s recent announcement of plans to send an oil company to Pakistan was seen by analysts as a step in that direction.

No shift from China or Iran

Some have characterized Pakistan’s outreach to Washington as a balancing act between the U.S., China, and Iran.

Former Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir told Nukta earlier that the engagement is “rooted in Pakistan’s own national interests” and does not represent a shift away from China or Iran.

“Our relationships with China and Iran are longstanding and remain unaffected,” Bashir said, noting Pakistan’s role in defusing recent tensions between Iran and the U.S.

Dr Qamar Cheema, Executive Director of the Sanober Institute, said Pakistan’s relationships with the U.S., China, and Iran are distinct, each with its own significance.

“With China, Pakistan has a strategic partnership; with Iran, an important bilateral relationship; and with the U.S., a history of highs and lows largely centered on security cooperation,” Cheema said.

He added that Pakistan and the U.S. have long collaborated on transnational security threats, but Washington is now moving toward an economic dimension in its relations with Islamabad — a shift Pakistan has advocated for years.