Who is Sajid Tarar? The Pakistani-American who arranged the Donald Trump–Asim Munir White House meeting amid global tensions

Time of India

5 hours ago

On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump hosted Pakistan's Army Chief, General Asim Munir, for a lunch meeting at the White House. This was the first time an American president welcomed Pakistan's top military leader for such an occasion. The meeting lasted over an hour and included the presence of Pakistan's intelligence head, Lt Gen Asim Malik. According to reports, the meeting was coordinated by Sajid Tarar, a Pakistani-American businessman based in Maryland.
The meeting came during a period of heightened international tension, as Trump is expected to make a key decision within two weeks on whether the U.S. will become involved in the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict.
Sajid Tarar: Republican insider and community leader
Sajid Tarar, the man behind arranging the high-level meeting, has been an active voice in Republican circles for years. A resident of the Baltimore-Washington area, Tarar is known for his association with the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement and founded the group "American Muslims for Trump." His proximity to the Trump administration became evident when his son secured a position at the U.S. State Department during Trump's first term.
Outside of politics, Tarar runs the Centre for Social Change, a nonprofit based in Baltimore. He has also worked with various business groups and finance teams for state governors. In recent years, he has advocated for peaceful relations between India and Pakistan—a rare position within the diaspora community.
Tarar moved to the U.S. in the 1990s and has since become a prominent Republican figure among Muslim Americans.
What happened during the Trump-Munir lunch?
During the Cabinet Room meeting, Trump publicly thanked General Munir for playing a role in preventing further escalation between India and Pakistan. 'Reason I had him here was I wanted to thank him for not going into the war and ending it,' Trump stated.
US President Donald Trump | Credit: X
The meeting took place just days after India and Pakistan agreed to end hostilities on May 10, following several days of heavy missile and drone attacks across the border. The lunch also unfolded against the backdrop of rising violence in West Asia, particularly the growing Israel-Iran conflict.
On Thursday, Pakistan reiterated its opposition to Israeli airstrikes on Iran, calling them violations of international law. 'It imperils the entire regional security structures, it impacts us deeply,' said Shafqat Ali Khan, spokesperson for Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Meanwhile, the conflict escalated further with Iranian missiles striking a hospital and residential areas in Israel, injuring 240 people. In retaliation, Israel launched airstrikes on Iran's nuclear site at Arak, though Iranian authorities stated there was no radiation threat from the damage.
As U.S. foreign policy hangs in balance, Sajid Tarar's role in bridging diplomatic ties highlights his growing influence behind the scenes.