Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir is reportedly heading to the US for the second time in two months. The official statement said Munir’s visit would take place this week, referring to it as a “return visit” following the trip made by US Central Command head Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla to Pakistan in July.
The visit comes as Trump continues to target India with 50 percent tariffs in response to India’s continued import of Russian oil.
Many analysts are surprised by the recent improvement in US-Pakistan relations, especially since ties had been strained after the US left Afghanistan. Pakistan, facing economic and security challenges, was largely ignored by the Biden administration until Trump unexpectedly worked to rebuild the relationship, focusing on trade and counter-terrorism.
Analysts believe Munir’s bid to appease Trump has been successful, with the country managing to secure a lower 19 percent tariff rate.
Jon Danilowicz, a retired American diplomat, attributes the thaw in US-Pakistan relations to Islamabad’s ability to “understand and respond” to the Trump administration’s foreign policy. “The US administration has tended to focus on its immediate concerns, and Pakistan has been quick to respond to these. India seeks to convince the US to take a longer-term view and make decisions accordingly,” Danilowicz told South China Morning Post.
Munir has also caught Trump's attention by promoting Pakistan’s large oil reserves and its crypto and mining industries. Some observers think he convinced Trump that Pakistan could help the US with its Iran policy and encourage more Muslim countries to build ties with Israel.
Michael Rubin, a former Pentagon official, opines that Trump’s moves are without “clear rhyme or reason”. He told the South China Morning Post that there isn’t anything that binds the countries together anymore, as the trade is just over 5 per cent of US-India trade.
There is also talk about Asim Munir’s political ambitions. He denies wanting to become President, but speculation is growing, especially since the Shehbaz Sharif government is seen as lacking integrity and public support, unlike Imran Khan’s administration.
However, this move by Munir could be very risky and might harm Pakistan’s relationship with China.