Trump expressed keen interest in forging trade ties with Islamabad: Pak Army
US President Donald Trump has expressed "keen interest" in developing a "mutually beneficial" trade partnership with Pakistan based on long-term strategic convergence and shared interests, the army said on Thursday.In a statement after a meeting between Trump and Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir at the White House on Wednesday, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) - the media wing of the Pakistan Army - said they also discussed joint counterterrorism efforts.advertisementDuring the high-level engagement, the discussions also encompassed avenues for expanding bilateral cooperation in multiple domains, including trade, economic development, mines and minerals, artificial intelligence, energy, cryptocurrency and emerging technologies, the ISPR said.
"President Trump expressed keen interest in forging a mutually beneficial trade partnership with Pakistan based on long-term strategic convergence and shared interests," said the statement.In the first formal reaction by the Pakistani government, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Thursday said the meeting between Army Chief Munir and President Trump helped to highlight the Pakistan-India conflict.In a post on X, Asif said the meeting was a milestone in Pakistan-US relations because "this is the first time that a US President has invited and met a Pakistani Army Chief".Describing the Trump-Munir meeting as "the most important turning point in the 78-year history of relations", Asif said the development is the success of the "current hybrid model of governance", involving the elected government and the army.advertisementHis comments seem to be a departure from the past when political parties demanded non-interference of the army in political affairs.The Chief of Army Staff "conveyed the deep appreciation of the Government and people of Pakistan for President Trump's constructive and result-oriented role in facilitating a ceasefire between Pakistan and India in the recent regional crisis", the ISPR said.He acknowledged President Trump's statesmanship and his ability to comprehend and address the multifaceted challenges faced by the global community, the statement added.President Trump, in turn, lauded Pakistan's ongoing efforts for regional peace and stability, and appreciated the robust counter-terrorism cooperation between the two states, the ISPR said.Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to continued collaboration in the field of counter-terrorism, it added.Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US Special Representative for the Middle East Steve Witkoff accompanied Trump. Munir was joined by National Security Advisor Lt Gen Asim Malik, who is also the head of the intelligence agency ISI. No senior civilian official from Pakistan was present.A detailed exchange of views also took place on the prevailing tensions between Iran and Israel, with both leaders emphasising the importance of the resolution of the conflict, the ISPR said.advertisementPresident Trump commended Munir's leadership and decisiveness during a period of complex regional dynamics, it said.In a "gesture reflecting the warmth of bilateral ties", Munir extended an invitation to President Trump, on behalf of the Government of Pakistan, to undertake an official visit to Pakistan at a mutually convenient date, the statement said.Although initially scheduled for one hour, the meeting was extended for over two hours, underscoring the depth and cordiality of the dialogue, it added."The engagement marks a significant moment in the ongoing efforts to reinforce the longstanding partnership between Pakistan and the US, built upon shared objectives of peace, stability and prosperity," according to the statement.Separately, President Trump said it was an honour for him to meet the Chief of Army Staff during a luncheon held at the Cabinet Room in the White House, the first-ever such honour for any Pakistani army chief.It is rare for the US President to host a lunch for an army chief of a foreign country. There have been precedents of Pakistan army chiefs, including Ayub Khan, Zia ul-Haq and Pervez Musharraf, receiving such invites. But they were holding the post of president as well.Speaking to the media after the event, Trump extended his gratitude to Pakistan's military chief for visiting and acknowledged his role in helping stop war with India.advertisement"I was honoured to meet him (Field Marshal Munir) today," Trump said. "I invited him to thank him for not going to war. He deserves appreciation for helping secure the ceasefire."When asked if the talks included the Iran-Israel conflict, Trump said, "They (Pakistan) know Iran very well, 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."According to experts, the meeting was a significant boost for relations between the two countries, which had been under strain for years due to suspicion in the US that Pakistan had failed to help it stabilise Afghanistan, which resulted in a hasty withdrawal from the country in 2021.The meeting comes after the recent tension with India and Trump umpteen times took credit for stopping the conflict, for which Pakistan thanked him for his role.India has been maintaining that the Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan reached an understanding to stop all firings and military actions on land, air and sea with immediate effect on May 10.Must Watch
IN THIS STORY#India-Pakistan#Pakistan#Donald Trump
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Indian Express
38 minutes ago
- Indian Express
As US eyes its airspace, Pakistan confirms: Trump, Munir had discussion on Iran
As anticipated by Delhi, US President Donald Trump and Pakistan Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir had a 'detailed exchange of views' on the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict when they met over lunch at the White House. In a statement Thursday, the Pakistan Army said, 'A detailed exchange of views also took place on the prevailing tensions between Iran and Israel, with both leaders emphasising the importance of resolution of the conflict.' Asked if Iran was discussed with Munir, Trump said: 'Well, they know Iran very well, better than most, and they are not happy about anything.' 'It's not that they are bad with Israel. They know them both, actually, but they probably, maybe they know Iran better, but they see what's going on, and he agreed with me,' he said. In Islamabad, the Pakistan Army said the US President showed 'keen interest' in developing a mutually beneficial trade relationship with Pakistan on the basis of long-term strategic interests. According to Delhi's assessment, the US is enlisting Rawalpindi's support since it would want to use Pakistan's airspace, air bases and other infrastructure for launching any military offensive on Iran. This was the key focus of Trump's lunch with Munir which, according to sources, lasted for about two hours, and not one hour as scheduled. According to news agency Reuters, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said Trump was hosting Munir after he called for the US President to be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for preventing a nuclear war between India and Pakistan. But sources indicated that the meeting was not arranged through routine diplomatic channels, and was the outcome of 'unorthodox efforts' by a group of advisers, businessmen and other influential figures. Sources said stronger counter-terrorism cooperation, engagement with crypto-linked influence networks, and targeted lobbying via Republican-aligned firms in Washington helped Pakistan secure the meeting. A source, who has been tracking the US-Pakistan relationship over decades, said, 'It is not rare but absolutely unprecedented for a military chief to be invited by a POTUS (President of the United States) for a meeting, let alone a meeting over a meal. All Pakistan military chiefs who visited the US and other capitals did so as Presidents.' In the past, US President George W Bush met Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf in 2004. Munir's US visit began last Sunday and was his second since he took over as military chief in 2022. Trump was effusive about both Munir and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said he was 'honoured' to meet Munir and that they discussed the situation arising out of the Iran-Israel conflict. 'The reason I had him here, I want to thank him for not going into the war, ending the war (with India). And I want to thank, as you know, Prime Minister Modi,' he said. 'We are working on a trade deal with India. We are working on a trade deal with Pakistan.' Trump also recalled his meeting with Modi at the White House in February. He said he was 'happy' that 'two very smart people decided not to keep going with that war'. 'That could have been a nuclear war. Those are two nuclear powers, big ones, big, big nuclear powers, and they decided (to end the conflict),' he said. The US President was accompanied at the meeting by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US Special Representative for the Middle East Steve Witkoff. Munir was joined by Pakistan National Security Advisor Lt Gen Asim Malik, who is also head of the spy agency ISI. Earlier, in his phone conversation with Trump, Modi had told the President that India and Pakistan halted their military actions following direct talks between the two militaries without any mediation by the US. The Pakistan Army, in its statement on the Trump-Munir meeting, said, the 'Chief of Army Staff conveyed the deep appreciation of the government and people of Pakistan for President Trump's constructive and result-oriented role in facilitating a ceasefire between Pakistan and India in the recent regional crisis. The COAS acknowledged President Trump's statesmanship and his ability to comprehend and address the multifaceted challenges faced by the global community.' 'President Trump, in turn, lauded Pakistan's ongoing efforts for regional peace and stability, and appreciated the robust counter-terrorism cooperation between the two states. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to continued collaboration in the field of counter-terrorism,' it said. 'Discussions also encompassed avenues for expanding bilateral cooperation in multiple domains including trade, economic development, mines and minerals, artificial intelligence, energy, cryptocurrency, and emerging technologies. President Trump expressed keen interest in forging a mutually beneficial trade partnership with Pakistan based on long-term strategic convergence and shared interests,' it said. 'In a gesture reflecting the warmth of bilateral ties, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir extended an invitation to President Trump, on behalf of the Government of Pakistan, to undertake an official visit to Pakistan at a mutually convenient date'
India Today
an hour ago
- India Today
India hit our airbases: Pakistan Deputy PM's big admission on Operation Sindoor
Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar confirmed that India attacked two important airbases in Pakistan -- Nur Khan Airbase in Rawalpindi and Shorkot Airbase -- during Operation Sindoor. These airstrikes were carried out by India on May 7, just days after 26 civilians were killed in a terror attack in statement comes after several denials by the Pakistani government and military about the extent of the damage caused by India's strikes. Speaking on Geo News, Dar revealed that the attacks occurred just as Pakistan was preparing to strike back, which meant India acted faster and caught them off operation was a response to the brutal April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. According to India, the action was "precise, measured and non-escalatory," targeting only terror-related infrastructure and installations involved in planning or supporting cross-border Deputy PM Ishaq Dar' openly admits 2 things in this interviewIndia struck the Nir Khan Air base and Shorkot Air baseIshaq Dar' says Saudi Prince Faisal called him asking "Am I authorised to talk to Jaishankar also and CONVEY ..and you are READY TO TALK" OsintTV (@OsintTV) June 19, 2025SAUDI ARABIA TRIED TO CALM TENSIONS Dar also revealed that within just 45 minutes of the Indian strikes, Saudi Prince Faisal bin Salman personally contacted him right after the strikes. "Saudi Prince Faisal bin Salman called and asked if he could tell Jaishankar that Pakistan is ready to stop," Dar told Geo News. The prince wanted to speak to Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Pakistan's behalf to calm the shows that Riyadh played a quiet yet important role in trying to bring down tensions between India and Pakistan. Dar added that Islamabad also reached out to the United States in hopes of stopping further military escalation by confession also contradicts earlier claims made by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other top officials of Pakistan, who had claimed that Pakistan had given a strong answer to India. But now, even PM Sharif has accepted that India carried out BrahMos missile strikes targeting several areas, including the Rawalpindi airport."India again launched missile attacks, BrahMos, and hit Pakistan's various provinces, including airport in Rawalpindi and other places," said Sharif in a recent admitted that Pakistan had planned a counterattack at 4:30 am on May 10, but India's second round of strikes on the night of May 9-10 disrupted those plans. This shows that Indian forces not only struck first, but they also successfully preempted Pakistan's more weight to the Indian offensive, General Asim Munir, Pakistan's Army Chief at the time and now promoted to Field Marshal, said that India's actions were aimed at creating a "new normal." According to Pakistani news outlet Dawn, Munir told overseas Pakistanis in Washington, "India attempted to establish a 'new normal' — a dangerous precedent of crossing international borders at will."OPERATION SINDOORadvertisementOperation Sindoor was launched by India as a response to the Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 civilians lost their lives. India carried out multiple drone and missile strikes on terror camps and military bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir(Pok) starting from May response, Pakistan attempted attacks on Indian military sites on May 8, 9, and 10. However, India responded with even more powerful counter-attacks, hitting back at key locations and disrupting Pakistan's four days of rising tensions and cross-border strikes, both sides reached an understanding of a ceasefire on May InMust Watch
India Gazette
2 hours ago
- India Gazette
"Best gift....": Sachin Pilot after Congress organises job fair on Rahul Gandhi's birthday
New Delhi [India], June 19 (ANI): Congress leader Sachin Pilot said that large-scale job fair organised by the party on Thursday to commemorate Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi's 55th birthday was the 'best gift' the party could give to its leader. Speaking to ANI about the job fair, Congress leader Sachin Pilot said, 'Today the Congress party has provided a platform where thousands of youth have got the opportunity to get employment... The central government and the ruling party should learn a lesson from this. Will they do only politics or will they do something for the people of the country as well? ... We cannot give a better gift than this to Rahul Gandhi.' Congress MP Rahul Gandhi arrived at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) Headquarters at 24 Akbar Road in Delhi on Thursday, as he celebrated his 55th birthday. Party workers gathered in large numbers to extend their best wishes to the Congress leader, creating a festive atmosphere at the AICC premises. Congress supporters distributed sweets and celebrated the occasion. Many extended birthday greetings to Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, on his 55th birthday, commending his unwavering commitment to constitutional values, social justice, and the upliftment of marginalised communities. The Congress party also honoured Rahul Gandhi's leadership on social media, calling him a 'true crusader for justice'. Meanwhile, while speaking to mediapersons here today, Sachin Pilot responded to US President Donald Trump's statement. 'The US President is consistently and continuously saying that he brokered the ceasefire by either showing the threat or allurement for a trade Spokesperson have denied that, but from the highest levels that statement should be contradicted, if it is hosting the Pakistani Army Chief at the White House, it is a clear indication of how the US government sees the Indo-Pak Indian government must attain more global alliances to take on this posturing that the US government is will never accept any mediation on are calling for a special session of the Parliament to send a message that PoK is ours,' said Pilot. Congress MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla also reacted on the same and told ANI, 'There has not been a single statement from the Prime Minister on this. General Asim, who has a role in promoting terrorism, is having lunch with Trump. Trump is saying that he is our good friend. Our foreign policy has completely failed. This government, the Prime Minister should pay attention to this.' This comes after US President Donald Trump on Wednesday (local time) hosted Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir at the White House for a lunch meeting, praising Munir for his role in preventing the escalation of the conflict between India and Pakistan. Trump said, 'The reason I had him here was I wanted to thank him for not going into the war and ending it...' Earlier, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh also raised concerns and said that it was a huge blow to Indian diplomacy. In a post on X, Jairam said that Munir is the same man whose inflammatory remarks formed the backdrop to the brutal Pahalgam attack on April 22. 'Field Marshall Asim Munir is NOT the Head of State or Head of Government of Pakistan. He is the Chief of Army Staff. Yet he gets invited by President Trump for lunch and receives much praise. This is the same man whose atrocious and inflammatory remarks formed the immediate backdrop to the brutal Pahalgam terror attacks orchestrated by the establishment over which he presides,' he said. 'It is a huge blow to Indian diplomacy (and huglomacy too),' Jairam added. (ANI)
