US President Donald Trump is set to hold a lunch meeting with Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir on Wednesday, as per the official White House itinerary. The meeting comes at a sensitive time, with geopolitical tensions soaring in West Asia and protests shadowing Munir’s visit to the United States.
General Munir, currently touring Washington DC, faced strong protests from overseas Pakistanis and activists affiliated with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). Protesters gathered outside the Four Seasons Hotel, chanting slogans like “Pakistanio ke Qatil” (Murderer of Pakistanis) and “Islamabad ke Qatil” (Murderer of Islamabad) as Munir arrived at a private event.
Nazia Imtiaz Hussain, Executive Director of The Alliance Organisation, posted footage of the demonstrations on X (formerly Twitter), stating: “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 reshared videos from the protest, reinforcing accusations against the Pakistani military chief for alleged human rights abuses and political oppression in Pakistan.
Despite the protests, General Munir addressed a gathering in Washington DC where he expressed support for Iran amid its escalating conflict with Israel. He reiterated Pakistan’s solidarity with Iran while calling for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing crisis.
The Trump-Munir meeting is scheduled even as President Trump remains deeply engaged in managing the crisis between Israel and Iran. On Tuesday, Trump posted a series of strong-worded messages on his platform, Truth Social, demanding Iran’s “unconditional surrender” and claiming that the US has “complete and total control of the skies over Iran.”
This scheduled engagement with General Munir has drawn attention because of Pakistan’s recent pro-Iran statements, which appear at odds with Trump’s firm pro-Israel stance during the unfolding Middle East conflict. Trump also held a national security meeting on Tuesday to discuss the latest developments in the region.
Analysts note that the Trump-Munir meeting could cover a range of security and regional stability issues, especially in the context of US-Pakistan defense ties, Afghanistan affairs, and counterterrorism cooperation. However, public perception of Munir’s visit remains marred by protests and accusations of undermining democracy in Pakistan.
The meeting is being closely watched by diplomatic observers given the widening rift in US-Iran-Israel relations and the evolving position of Pakistan on these matters.