• Source:JND
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In a rare gesture, US President Donald Trump on Wednesday hosted Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir at the White House, weeks after India and Pakistan were locked in a four-day military conflict. The closed-door luncheon meeting came amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran with Trump exploring Washington's possible involvement. Islamabad is known for its close ties with Tehran.

Briefing media about his meeting with Munir, US President Donald asserted he wanted to thank the Pakistani Army chief for not going to war with India and added he was "honoured" to meet him in the White House. "... Reason I had him here was I wanted to thank him for not going into the war and ending it... Prime Minister Modi just left a little while ago and we are working a trade deal with India and also with Pakistan...," said Trump while interacting with the reporters in the White House.

"I am so happy. Two very smart people decided not to keep going with the war. Those are two big nuclear powers. I was honoured to meet him today," added Trump.

Trump on Israel-Iran war

In a video posted by news agency ANI, Munir was seen entering the White House with a delegation. Asked whether the talks included the current Iran-Israel conflict, Trump said, “They (Pakistan) know Iran very well, better than most, and they’re not happy about anything. It’s not that they’re bad with Israel. They know them both, actually, but they know Iran better.

ALSO READ: When Will US Attack Iran? Trump Responds To America Strike Rumors On Tehran

It is rare for the US president to host a lunch for an army chief of a foreign country. There have been precedents of Pakistan army chiefs, including Ayub Khan, Zia ul-Haq and Pervez Musharraf, receiving such invites.

But they were holding the post of president as well. The US president had cut short his trip to Canada's Kananaskis for the G7 Leaders' Summit and returned to Washington Tuesday morning amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.

PM Modi rejected Trump's invitation

Earlier, an official advisory said Trump would be hosting the Pakistan Army Chief for lunch in the Cabinet Room of the White House at 1 pm. Interestingly, Trump, during a phone conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asked him if he could stop in the US on his way back from Canada. But, the prime minister expressed his inability to do so "due to pre-scheduled engagements," Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said.

ALSO READ: Trump Again Claims Credit For India-Pakistan Ceasefire Hours After PM Modi's Fact-Check Call, Says 'I Love Pak'

PM Modi's fact-check call to Trump

In the phone talks, PM Modi told Trump that India and Pakistan halted their military actions last month following direct talks between the two militaries without any mediation by the US. PM Modi also firmly stated that India does not and will "never accept" mediation and that the discussions between Indian and Pakistani militaries on cessation of military actions were initiated at Islamabad's request, Misri said.

The prime minister's assertion came against the backdrop of Trump's persistent claims that he brokered the ceasefire deal between India and Pakistan. The White House's invitation to Munir is being projected by officials in Islamabad as a major diplomatic win, according to the Dawn newspaper.

India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting terrorist infrastructure in territories controlled by Pakistan in response to the Pahalgam terror attack. The strikes triggered four days of intense clashes that ended with an understanding of stopping the military actions on May 10. New Delhi has been maintaining that India's fierce counter-attack that day forced Pakistan to plead for ending the hostilities.

Pakistan was not behind attack on Pahalgam: Munir

Last month, Munir was elevated to the rank of Field Marshal in the first such promotion since Ayub Khan in 1959. In an address to the Pakistani-American community on Monday evening, Munir urged India to engage with Pakistan "as a civilised nation" rather than "attempting to impose regional hegemony", the Dawn reported.

The Pakistan Army Chief also rejected allegations that Pakistan was behind the Pahalgam terror attack. Munir accused India of seeking to establish a “new normal” of "violating international borders", which he said Pakistan had "forcefully rejected", according to the newspaper.

India-Pakistan ceasefire

Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after the Pahalgam terror attack, with India carrying out precision strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on May 7. The on-ground hostilities from the Indian and Pakistan sides that lasted for four days ended with an understanding of stopping the military actions following talks between the directors general of military operations of both sides on May 10.

Munir's interaction with the Pakistani American community at the Four Seasons Hotel in Washington's Georgetown neighbourhood drew some crowds, the Dawn said. However, protesters aligned with the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party of former prime minister Imran Khan demonstrated outside, calling for democratic reforms and the release of their jailed leaders.

(With inputs from agency)