Pakistan Field Marshal Asim Munir is expected to fly to Washington to meet US President Donald Trump in the coming weeks for a third meeting in six months, news agency Reuters reported, citing its sources.

This triggered fresh political speculation in Islamabad. The repeated interactions between Trump and Pakistan’s powerful military chief have raised questions over the future of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the balance of power within the country.

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While official details of the meeting remain undisclosed, analysts believe discussions are likely to focus on regional security, counterterrorism cooperation, and developments in the Middle East, including Gaza.

The unusual frequency of Munir's engagements with Trump has drawn attention, especially as Pakistan grapples with economic distress and political instability.

Traditionally, Pakistan's civilian leadership handles diplomatic outreach, but the army chief's growing visibility on the global stage has fueled speculation about a possible political recalibration. Neither the US nor Pakistani authorities have commented on claims that Washington could be backing a change in leadership. However, the meeting has once again highlighted the military’s dominant role in Pakistan’s power structure.

Tough way for Asim Munir

Pakistan's most powerful military chief in decades faces the toughest test of his newly amassed powers as Washington pushes Islamabad to contribute troops to the Gaza stabilisation force, a move analysts say could spark domestic backlash.

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According to Reuters, the Munir-Trump talks will likely focus on the Gaza force. Reuters said its two sources, one of them a key player in the general's economic diplomacy, confirmed the upcoming development.

Trump's Gaza plan

Trump's 20-point Gaza plan calls for a force from Muslim nations to oversee a transition period for reconstruction and economic recovery in the war-torn Palestinian territory, decimated by over two years of Israeli military bombardment. Many countries are wary of the mission to demilitarise Gaza's Islamist militant group Hamas, which could drag them into the conflict and enrage their pro-Palestinian and anti-Israeli populations. But Munir has built a close relationship with the mercurial Trump to repair years of mistrust between Washington and Islamabad.

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In June, he was rewarded with a White House lunch - the first time a US President hosted Pakistan's army chief alone, without civilian officials. "Not contributing (to the Gaza stabilisation force) could annoy Trump, which is no small matter for a Pakistani state that appears quite keen to remain in his good graces - in great part to secure US investment and security aid," said Michael Kugelman, Senior Fellow, South Asia at Washington-based Atlantic Council.

(With inputs from Reuters)