Pakistani Army Chief Attends Centcom Command Change, Meets US Military Leadership

TDT | Manama

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Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, has returned to the United States for a high-profile official visit aimed at strengthening bilateral military and diplomatic ties. This visit marks his second trip to the US in recent months, following a groundbreaking June meeting with then-President Donald Trump at the White House.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement released on Sunday, Field Marshal Munir has participated in several important engagements with senior American military and political figures. A key event during this visit was his attendance at the Retirement Ceremony of outgoing U.S. Central Command (Centcom) Commander, General Michael E. Kurilla, held in Tampa, Florida. The ceremony also included the Change of Command event, where Admiral Brad Cooper was formally welcomed as the new Centcom commander.

Field Marshal Munir praised General Kurilla’s exemplary leadership and his significant contributions toward strengthening military cooperation between the two countries. He also expressed strong confidence in working closely with Admiral Cooper to continue addressing shared regional and global security challenges.

In addition to these ceremonies, Munir held a strategic meeting with General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, where they discussed mutual interests and cooperation opportunities. As part of this engagement, Munir extended a formal invitation for General Caine to visit Pakistan, signaling Pakistan’s openness to deeper military dialogue and partnership.

Throughout his visit, the Pakistani army chief also engaged with defence leaders from allied nations, reinforcing Pakistan’s commitment to multilateral collaboration in defense and security matters. These interactions highlight Islamabad’s intent to play an active role in regional stability alongside its international partners.

A significant component of the visit was Munir’s session with members of the Pakistani diaspora in the US. During this interaction, he encouraged overseas Pakistanis to remain optimistic about the country’s future and urged them to support ongoing national efforts aimed at attracting foreign investment and fostering economic growth. The diaspora community responded enthusiastically, pledging their continued commitment to Pakistan’s development and progress.

Field Marshal Munir’s current visit builds on the momentum from his earlier historic meeting with President Trump in June. That meeting was notable as the first face-to-face discussion between a serving Pakistani army chief and a sitting US president in recent history. It lasted over two hours and focused on broadening cooperation in key areas such as trade, energy, artificial intelligence, and security.

Following the June visit, Pakistan and the United States formalized a long-anticipated bilateral trade agreement, which includes plans for the joint development of Pakistan’s untapped oil reserves. President Trump publicly announced the agreement on social media, stating that both countries are in the process of selecting an energy firm to lead the project, which is expected to significantly boost economic and energy ties.

Field Marshal Asim Munir’s engagements in the US underscore the evolving dynamics of Pakistan-US relations, with a clear focus on strategic military collaboration and economic partnership amid changing regional security challenges.