Pakistan Army chief Munir expected to visit U.S. again: Report
In June, Gen.Munir travelled to the U.S. on a rare five-day trip during which he attended a private luncheon with President Donald Trump. That meeting culminated in Trump's announcement of enhanced U.S.-Pakistan cooperation in various fields, including an oil deal.
Field Marshal Munir is expected in the U.S. this week for consultations with his American counterparts, Dawn newspaper reported, citing official sources.
Sources told the paper that this would be a return visit, following a trip to Pakistan by Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, head of the US Central Command (CENTCOM), in late July.
In a press statement issued on August 4, CENTCOM recalled Gen. Kurilla's recent visit to Pakistan and other countries in the region.
During the visit, Gen. Kurilla was also conferred the Nishan-i-Imtiaz (Military) by the Pakistani government.
During his previous visit to Washington, Gen. Munir was hosted by President Donald Trump in an unprecedented gesture typically reserved for visiting heads of state or government.
There was no official word on the visit from Inter-Services Public Relations or Pakistan's embassy in Washington, but during his previous visit, the army chief had hinted that he expected to return to the U.S. again later in the year.
The development comes just over a month after the U.S. general described Pakistan as a 'phenomenal partner' in counterterrorism efforts during a congressional hearing, where he also praised Pakistan's role 'in promoting peace and stability' in the region.
After his meeting with Mr. Trump in June, Gen. Munir had held a comprehensive and candid exchange with senior scholars, analysts, policy experts, and representatives of leading international media outlets in Washington.
His visit to the U.S. came weeks after India launched Operation Sindoor following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
The relations between the U.S. and Pakistan had been under strain after the killing of al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden by the U.S. forces in May 2011 in a secret operation in Abbottabad, Pakistan.
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