Field Marshal Asim Munir, Chief of the Pakistan Army, is scheduled to visit the United States for the second time in two months, according to reports in the Pakistani media.
The visit is being seen as a sign of deepening ties between Islamabad and Washington, DC, and comes at a time of growing tension between the US and India over escalating trade tariffs.
The planned trip follows US President Donald Trump’s recent decision to impose an additional 25 per cent tariff on Indian exports. The move, which has drawn sharp criticism from New Delhi, is part of a broader push by Washington to penalise countries continuing to import Russian oil.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs called the tariff hike “unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable”, arguing that its energy imports were based on market considerations and aimed at ensuring the energy security of its 1.4 billion citizens.
“It is therefore extremely unfortunate that the US should choose to impose additional tariffs on India... for actions that several other countries are also taking in their national interest,” the Ministry said in a statement.
Field Marshal Munir’s upcoming trip also follows a recent visit to Pakistan by General Michael Erik Kurilla, head of the US Central Command (CENTCOM), in July.
During that trip, the Pakistani government awarded the visiting US General the Nishan-i-Imtiaz (military), one of the country’s highest honours for military personnel.
Munir last visited Washington in June, where he was hosted by Trump for lunch at the White House. During that visit, the Field Marshal had hinted at a return later in the year, a detail reported by Pakistan’s local newspaper.
Tensions between India and the US have further intensified in the wake of Operation Sindoor—India’s counter-strike following the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam region, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians.
While Trump has repeatedly claimed credit for brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has firmly denied any external involvement.
“We had said from day one that our action was non-escalatory. No leader in the world asked us to stop Operation Sindoor,” Modi said during a parliamentary debate on the operation.
Trump’s recent trade deal with Pakistan, which includes a preferential tariff structure and potential cooperation in exploring oil reserves, has further highlighted the shifting dynamics in South Asia’s geopolitical landscape.
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