Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, NI (M), is on an official visit to the United States, where he has held high-level meetings with senior American military officials and interacted with the Pakistani community.
In Tampa, General Munir attended the retirement ceremony of outgoing United States Central Command (CENTCOM) Commander General Michael E. Kurilla, as well as the Change of Command ceremony marking the assumption of command by Admiral Brad Cooper. The army chief praised General Kurilla’s leadership and his role in strengthening US–Pakistan military cooperation. He extended best wishes to Admiral Cooper and voiced confidence in continued collaboration to address shared security challenges.
During the visit, General Munir met with Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Caine, to discuss matters of mutual professional interest. The Pakistani army chief invited General Caine to visit Pakistan. On the sidelines of official engagements, General Munir also held informal discussions with defence chiefs from friendly nations.
The trip also included an interactive session with members of the Pakistani diaspora in the United States. General Munir urged them to remain confident in Pakistan’s ‘bright future’ and to actively contribute to attracting foreign investment. He stressed the importance of their role in supporting the country’s economic stability and growth. Members of the diaspora reaffirmed their commitment to contributing to Pakistan’s progress and prosperity.
The visit marks another round of military diplomacy between Islamabad and Washington amid ongoing regional security challenges. While Pakistan and the US maintain differences on certain strategic issues, both militaries continue to share cooperation on counterterrorism, regional stability, and defence capacity-building.
Separately, Indian outlet The Print published a report claiming, without citing any specific named sources, that during a black-tie dinner in Tampa, General Munir made remarks about India, including a nuclear threat and references to the Indus Waters Treaty. According to The Print, its account was reconstructed from the recollections of “several participants” at the event, as guests were not permitted to carry phones or recording devices. However, these claims could not be independently verified, and no confirmation has been issued by Pakistani authorities or credible third-party sources.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) emphasised that Pakistan’s armed forces remain committed to strengthening ties with international partners and fostering unity among overseas Pakistanis in support of the nation’s long-term stability.
