Latest news with #SajidTarar
Time of India
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Who is Sajid Tarar? The Pakistani-American who arranged the Donald Trump–Asim Munir White House meeting amid global tensions
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.
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First Post
10 hours ago
- 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
