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Express Tribune
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
A clarion call for Trump's peace
The world watches as you, President Trump, meet with Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu and India's Narendra Modi, navigating a path to peace that resonates with Pakistani-Americans. The US remains a beacon of hope, with 83% of Americans prioritising freedom over security. Yet, Gaza's bloodshed and Kashmir's unrest demand your leadership. Pakistani-Americans, part of America's vibrant tapestry, urge you to wield your influence for justice, not chaos. Your "America First" vision can bridge divides, but only if it honours the sacrifices of allies like Pakistan and the aspirations of oppressed communities. The time for fearless diplomacy is now, before more lives are lost. Gaza bleeds under Israel's assault. The ICC's warrants against Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant signal accountability for war crimes, yet the blockade persists, causing 90% unemployment and 80% food insecurity. Your campaign promise of "No More Wars" inspired millions, but silence on Gaza darkens that hope. Pakistani-Americans, many in Blue states, voted for you, believing in your resolve. Engage Netanyahu to secure a ceasefire, aligning with America's commitment to justice and halting this humanitarian catastrophe before it fuels further global unrest. For 77 years, Kashmiris have endured a denied UN plebiscite, rejected by India in 1949 under US-nominated Admiral Chester Nimitz, while Gaza mourns more than 57,000 deaths from Israel's ICC-indicted war crimes. Modi's 2019 Kashmir clampdown, with 900,000 troops, and 2025 IWT suspension, attacking Pakistan's water lifeline, align with Netanyahu's airstrikes on Iran and Lebanon, shunning diplomacy. Bill Clinton warned in 2025, "Netanyahu wants to fight Iran to stay in office forever Trump should defuse the situation and end civilian deaths." Their collaboration fuels anguish, with Modi's Nepal and Bangladesh tensions mirroring Netanyahu's regional conflicts. America must bolster US-Pakistan cooperation to broker dialogue, easing Kashmiris' and Palestinians' cries. Modi's legacy as Gujarat's CM during the 2002 riots, where over 1,000 died, mostly Muslims, stains his record. His ties to RSS, a Hindu nationalist group, embolden destabilising policies, from Kashmir's lockdown to laws targeting minorities. Your meetings with Modi, President Trump, overlook this history, risking America's commitment to justice. Pakistani-Americans urge you to challenge Modi's actions, particularly his defiance of US mediation offers. A principled stance can prevent further escalation, ensuring South Asia's stability and honouring the values of fairness you championed in 2016. In 1979, Pakistan, America's Cold War ally, suffered 80,000 terrorism deaths, 3.5 million refugees and a drug surge. Hillary Clinton noted in 2010, "We trained and funded the mujahideen, then left a vacuum that fueled al-Qaeda and extremism in Pakistan." Yet, its fifth-largest population is scapegoated, fueling anguish. Over one million Pakistani-Americans, including 50,000 professionals25,000 doctors, professors, IT experts - enrich the US, their loyalty shining through Blue-state "America First" support via Pakistanis For Trump. German Chancellor Merz's June 2025 gift of Trump's grandfather's birth certificate symbolised shared roots. Recognising Pakistan's sacrifices can rebuild US-Pakistan trust, fostering peace for scarred communities. Your 2016 pledge of "No More Wars" resonated with 62% of Americans wary of foreign entanglements. Yet, your alignment with Netanyahu and Modi, despite their aggressive policies, betrays that promise. The "deep state" rhetoric, echoed in 2025 campaign ads, divides rather than unites. Pakistani-Americans, who supported you in Blue states, feel sidelined as Gaza and Kashmir burn. Your leadership can reclaim America's moral high ground by rejecting divisive tactics and engaging allies like Pakistan to broker peace. President Trump, your meetings with Netanyahu and Modi offer a chance to transcend partisan divides. The DSA's radical rainbow hues, as seen in 2025 protests, cannot dictate policy, but neither should unchecked aggression. America must lead with principle, not expediency. Pakistani-Americans and allies urge you to champion diplomacy in Gaza and Kashmir, honouring the Founding Fathers' vision of justice. Your "America First" mandate can forge a legacy of peace, uniting nations and restoring trust in a fractured world.
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First Post
20-06-2025
- Politics
- First Post
Who is Sajid Tarar, the man who facilitated the Donald Trump-Asim Munir lunch?
US President Donald Trump hosted Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir for a lunch meeting at the White House on Wednesday (June 18). This was the first time a US president had welcomed the powerful head of Pakistan's military. The meeting was reportedly arranged by Sajid Tarar, a Pakistani-American businessman based in the Baltimore-Washington area, who founded the group 'American Muslims for Trump' read more He is a Pakistani-American businessman living in the Baltimore-Washington area. Reuters/File Photo US President Donald Trump welcomed Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir for a lunch meeting at the White House on Wednesday. This was the first time a US president had hosted the influential head of Pakistan's army, who is seen as playing a major role in shaping the country's national security decisions. The meeting was arranged by Sajid Tarar, a Pakistani-American businessman, according to reports. Read Israel-Iran conflict day 8 live updates here. It came at a tense moment in Washington, with Trump expected to decide in the next two weeks whether the US will join the Israel-Iran conflict. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD So, who is Sajid Tarar? And what happened during the Trump-Munir meeting? Let's take a look at these details: Who is Sajid Tarar? He is a Pakistani-American businessman living in the Baltimore-Washington area. He was a regular presence at the Republican National Conventions and is known for his strong links to the Make America Great Again (Maga) movement. Tarar also founded the group 'American Muslims for Trump'. His closeness to Donald Trump's circle was visible when his son got a role at the US State Department during Trump's first term. The meeting was reportedly arranged by Sajid Tarar. Reuters/File Photo Outside politics, Tarar heads the nonprofit Centre for Social Change in Baltimore, Maryland. He has served on finance teams for state governors and has held senior positions in several business and investment groups. He came into the spotlight recently for reportedly arranging the lunch meeting between Trump and Asim Munir. Beyond his work with Pakistani-Americans, Tarar has also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and backed the idea of peaceful, cooperative ties between India and Pakistan, a rare stand in a divided diaspora. He moved to the US in the 1990s, became a citizen, and has since been a prominent Republican voice among Muslim Americans. ALSO READ | What is Iran's Arak heavy water reactor 'created to build nukes' that Israel struck? Donald Trump-Asim Munir luncheon meeting During the lunch meeting on Wednesday, Trump praised Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir for his 'role' in helping prevent further escalation between India and Pakistan. Trump said, 'Reason I had him here was I wanted to thank him for not going into the war and ending it…' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The meeting, held in the Cabinet Room of the White House, lasted over an hour. Pakistan's ISI chief, Lt Gen Asim Malik, also attended alongside Munir. India and Pakistan agreed to end hostilities on May 10 after four days of heavy cross-border missile and drone attacks. The meeting came at a time when tensions were rising in West Asia, with the US weighing its role in the growing Israel-Iran conflict. Pakistan has condemned Israel's airstrikes on Iran, calling them a breach of international law and a threat to regional peace. 'This is for us a very serious issue what is happening in our brotherly country of Iran. It imperils the entire regional security structures, it impacts us deeply,' Shafqat Ali Khan, spokesman for Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said on Thursday. Smoke rises following an Israeli attack in Tehran. WANA/Reuters Meanwhile, Israel and Iran exchanged fire again on Thursday, marking the seventh day of the ongoing conflict. Iranian missiles struck a major hospital in southern Israel and hit residential areas in Tel Aviv, injuring 240 people and causing serious damage. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz held Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei responsible, saying the Israeli military 'has been instructed and knows that in order to achieve all of its goals, this man absolutely should not continue to exist.' Israel also carried out airstrikes on Iran's Arak heavy water reactor in a fresh attack on its nuclear infrastructure. Iranian state media reported that there was 'no radiation danger whatsoever' and said the site had been cleared ahead of the strike. The White House later said Trump will decide within two weeks whether the US will join Israel's campaign against Iran's military and nuclear targets. Trump, it said, still believes there is a chance to resolve the issue through diplomacy. With inputs from agencies
Hans India
19-06-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Pak army chief Munir's meeting with Trump lasted over two hours: ISPR
Islamabad: Pakistan's Army Chief Asim Munir held wide-ranging discussions on counter-terrorism efforts, rising tensions in the Middle East and enhancement of bilateral trade during his meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House, the Pakistani military's media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) stated on Thursday. The meeting took place at a time when Munir's visit to the US has been overshadowed by widespread protests led by members of the Pakistani diaspora and supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. Reports suggest that the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US Special Representative for Middle Eastern Affairs Steve Witkoff also took part in the meeting. From the Pakistani side, Munir was accompanied by the Director General of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Lt Gen Muhammad Asim Malik. According to the ISPR, the meeting, initially scheduled for one hour, extended for over two hours, "underscoring the depth and cordiality of the dialogue". The discussions, it said, 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. Munir acknowledged President Trump's statesmanship and his ability to comprehend and address the multifaceted challenges faced by the global community," ISPR stated. While Munir's visit is being projected as a step towards strengthening military and strategic ties with Washington, the recent backlash from overseas Pakistanis turned his stay at the luxury hotel in Washington into a scene of charged demonstrations. Protesters chanted slogans accusing Munir of human rights violations, branding him as "Pakistanio ke qatil" and "Islamabad ke qatil" -- meaning "killer of Pakistanis" and "killers of Islamabad", respectively. A video widely circulated on social media showed one protester yelling, "Geedad, geedad, geedad (jackal, jackal, jackal)", a derogatory term used to suggest cowardice and deceit. The clip quickly went viral and was described by analysts as a public embarrassment for the Pakistani military establishment. Pakistani-Americans demonstrating outside the hotel stated that their goal was to remind General Munir of the crimes he is allegedly responsible for against the people of Pakistan. This is Munir's first official US trip since the April 22 terror attack on Indian tourists in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which left 26 civilians dead. The Resistance Front, an offshoot of Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility for the massacre.
Economic Times
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Economic Times
Trump to meet Pakistan's Army Chief Asim Munir over lunch amid Mideast crisis
General Asim Munir's US visit is marked by protests from Pakistani activists, even as he is scheduled to meet with President Trump for lunch. The protests highlight concerns over Munir's actions in Pakistan. Simultaneously, Trump is escalating tensions with Iran, demanding unconditional surrender amidst ongoing conflict in West Asia, a situation complicated by Pakistan's support for Iran. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads US President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet with Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff, General Asim Munir over lunch on Wednesday. A White House itinerary of President Trump for Wednesday shows his lunch meeting with the General Munir is currently on a visit to the United States. On Monday, he was met with protests by overseas Pakistanis and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters in Washington, D.C. Videos circulating on social media show demonstrators chanting slogans such as 'Pakistanio ke Qatil' and 'Islamabad ke Qatil' during an event welcoming Imtiaz Hussain, who identifies herself on X as Executive Director of The Alliance Organisation, posted a video of the protest, saying, 'We're here to protest the criminal dictator of Pakistan. Shame on every bootlicker who showed up in support of fascism—you didn't just betray democracy; you spit on the suffering of millions.'PTI USA also shared protest footage, stating, 'Pakistani-Americans in Washington, DC are protesting outside the Four Seasons hotel, reminding General Asim Munir of the crimes he's committed against the people of Pakistan.'The meeting between Trump and Munir comes at a tense moment globally, with the US President focused on the escalating crisis in West Asia. On Tuesday, Trump took to Truth Social, demanding an 'unconditional surrender' from Iran. He claimed the US had 'complete and total control of the skies over Iran' and knew 'exactly where the so-called 'Supreme Leader' is hiding,' warning, 'our patience is wearing thin,' before posting: 'UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!'In contrast, General Munir has expressed support for Iran. In a recent speech in Washington, he said Pakistan stands with Iran and hopes for a swift resolution to the backdrop to these developments includes a series of Israeli airstrikes on Iranian military and nuclear sites, followed by retaliatory attacks from Tehran. Trump has reiterated his support for Israel and has repeatedly stressed that Iran must not be allowed to acquire nuclear Pakistan Army chief Gen Asim Munir spewed venom against India and Hindus just weeks before the Pahalgam attack, in which several tourists were killed by terrorists, to emphasise that Islamabad's approach has been to "bleed India by thousand cuts".In May, Pakistan's federal cabinet approved the elevation of Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir to the rank of Field Marshal—only the second time in the country's history such a title has been conferred. The decision comes despite acknowledged military and strategic setbacks during the recent conflict with to Dawn, the government cited Munir's leadership in Operation Bunyanum Marsoos and the Indo-Pak confrontation, dubbed Marka-i-Haq, as justification for the rare military analysts have pointed to failures during the operation, the Pakistani government portrayed the outcome as a 'historic victory,' praising General Munir's role in the Munir now joins the ranks of Field Marshal Ayub Khan—Pakistan's first and only other officer to hold the title. Ayub, who seized power in a 1958 military coup and later became President, had conferred the rank upon himself following his assumption of office.
Hindustan Times
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Trump to meet Pak Army Chief Asim Munir over lunch
US President Donald Trump is set to meet Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir over lunch on Wednesday, the President's public schedule stated. The meeting comes days after the US administration denied inviting Munir to the US Army's 250th anniversary celebrations. The US President's public schedule showed that Trump will have lunch with the Chief of Army Staff of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan at 1 pm in the cabinet room. Also Read: Was Asim Munir invited to attend the US military parade? White House clears the air amid backlash Asim Munir is also expected to meet Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth during his US trip, the Dawn reported. The Pakistani army chief arrived in the US on a five-day official visit on Sunday. The report, however, said the trip was not officially linked to the US Army's 250th anniversary celebrations on June 14, adding that it was aimed at 'reinforcing military and strategic ties' between the two countries. During Munir's visit to the US, several PTI supporters gathered outside the Pakistani embassy on Saturday afternoon and protested demanding "unfettered democracy" in Pakistan. Also Read: Viral video shows Asim Munir being heckled by Pakistanis in the US: 'Geedar, mass murderer' In a post on X, PTI USA posted a video of the protest stating, "Pakistani-Americans in Washington, DC are protesting outside the Four Seasons hotel, reminding General Asim Munir of the crimes he's committed against the people of Pakistan."
