A surprising announcement came from the White House on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, when Pakistan’s Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, was invited to a lunch meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump. Field Marshal Munir reportedly received the invite after he recommended U.S. President Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize.
The lunch took place at the White House, though exact details about the timing weren’t shared. White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said the meeting happened because Munir praised Trump for preventing a nuclear war between India and Pakistan. Trump, speaking to reporters, doubled down on his claim that he stopped a war between the two countries, saying, “I stopped the war between Pakistan and India. This man was extremely influential in stopping it from the Pakistani side, Modi from the Indian side. They were going at it—and they’re both nuclear countries. I got it stopped.”
This all stems from a tense conflict in May 2025, sparked by a terror attack in Pahalgam, India, on April 22 that killed 26 people, mostly tourists. India launched Operation Sindoor, hitting terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. For four days, both sides traded drone and missile strikes until a ceasefire was reached on May 10. Trump has repeatedly said he mediated the ceasefire, but Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi insists it was sorted out through direct military talks between India and Pakistan, with no U.S. involvement. Modi made this clear in a 35-minute phone call with Trump on Tuesday, June 17, saying India never discussed mediation or trade deals during the conflict.
The lunch meeting was a rare event—the first time a U.S. president has hosted a Pakistani army chief without civilian leaders present. Trump called it an honor to meet Munir, praising him and Modi as “very smart” for avoiding a nuclear war. He also mentioned discussing Iran, noting Pakistan’s close ties with them, saying, “They know Iran very well, better than most, and they’re not happy about anything.”
Social media, lit up with reactions. Some posts mocked the meeting, with one calling Munir a “Field Beggar” who “sold out for a plate of food and Nike shoes.” Others saw it as a diplomatic win for Pakistan, with former Pakistani minister Bilawal Bhutto tweeting it was a “positive step” for U.S.-Pakistan relations. India’s Congress party, however, slammed the meeting as a setback for Indian diplomacy, pointing to Munir’s military role and past provocative statements.
This meeting matters because Pakistan and India are nuclear powers, and any conflict could be catastrophic. Trump’s focus on trade deals with both countries shows he’s pushing for economic ties to keep the peace. But India’s firm stance against U.S. mediation and the mixed reactions online highlight the tricky balance of this diplomacy. The lunch also comes amid tensions between Israel and Iran, with Pakistan’s ties to Iran possibly adding another layer to the talks.
