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US-Pakistan ties: When geopolitics is the entree for lunch

US-Pakistan ties: When geopolitics is the entree for lunch

Straits Times13 hours ago
The recent invitation to the Pakistani army chief for a meal with US President Donald Trump at the White House points to significant shifts in bilateral ties and US geopolitical calculations.
Amid all the excitement preceding the American air strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities, including Mr Donald Trump's early departure from the Group of 7 meetings, perhaps nothing caught so much attention as an unprecedented lunch the US President hosted on June 18 for Pakistan's army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir.
So closely followed was that meeting by the press and on social media that what they ate became a source of memes and scrutiny – it's lamb and caramelised onions for an entree – as well as disinformation (a fake White House menu circulated that claimed Mr Trump served pork dishes to the general, a Muslim).
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