Donald Trump has stated he was "honored" to meet with Pakistan's Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, at the White House on Wednesday, June 18, 2025. The meeting, a rare occurrence, took place following a recent four-day military conflict between India and Pakistan and amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, with the U.S. exploring possible involvement in the Middle East.

Trump credited Asim Munir, along with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for their roles in de-escalating the conflict between the two nuclear powers. He emphasized the potential severity of the situation, stating that the conflict "could have been a nuclear war" and expressed his satisfaction that "two very smart people decided not to keep going with that war."

The meeting between Trump and Munir is particularly noteworthy as it marks the first time a U.S. President has hosted Pakistan's army chief at the White House without senior Pakistani civilian officials present. This has been interpreted by some officials in Islamabad as a major diplomatic win.

During the meeting, Trump stated that he thanked Munir for "ending the war" and acknowledged Pakistan's restraint and commitment to peace. He also mentioned ongoing trade deal discussions with both India and Pakistan, highlighting his recent conversations with Prime Minister Modi.

Trump also revealed that discussions with General Munir touched upon the topic of Iran, a country that Pakistan knows "very well." He indicated that Munir shared his concerns regarding the situation with Iran.

Trump's remarks have reignited a dispute with India regarding his previous claims of mediating a ceasefire between the two nations. While Trump asserts that he "stopped the war," India has maintained that the cessation of hostilities was the result of bilateral military discussions initiated at Islamabad's request.

The meeting also signals a potential shift in US-Pakistan relations, which have been strained in recent years. Some analysts believe that the meeting signifies a thaw in relations as Washington increasingly prioritizes ties with India to counter China.

In addition to discussing regional security, Pakistani officials anticipated that Munir would urge Trump to avoid involvement in the conflict between Israel and Iran, advocating instead for a ceasefire. Pakistan, which hosts Iran's interests section in Washington, has publicly condemned Israel's actions.

Field Marshal Munir's visit to the U.S. also included an address to the Pakistani-American community, during which he urged India to engage with Pakistan "as a civilized nation." Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated following a terror attack, leading to military strikes by India on terror infrastructure within Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.