Pakistan’s Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, is slated to meet privately with former US President Donald Trump on Wednesday, as part of his official visit to Washington. The closed-door luncheon, scheduled for 1 PM local time, will take place in the Cabinet Room of the White House, with no media coverage allowed.

Munir, who arrived in the United States on Sunday for a five-day trip, is also expected to hold meetings with key US officials including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. Sources say the purpose of his visit is to bolster bilateral defense and strategic ties, rather than to participate in the June 14 celebrations of the US Army’s 250th anniversary — a rumour firmly denied by US authorities.

“No invitations were extended to foreign military leaders,” a White House spokesperson confirmed, dismissing earlier reports of Munir’s participation in the parade.

Protests Shadow Munir’s Washington Visit

The Pakistani general’s trip has not gone unnoticed by the diaspora. Outside the Four Seasons Hotel, where Munir is believed to be staying, supporters of jailed former PM Imran Khan gathered to voice strong opposition. Protesters accused Munir of orchestrating crackdowns in Pakistan, calling him the “Butcher of Pakistanis.” Chants and slogans disrupted the quiet of the luxury hotel, with one protester shouting “Geedad” — a term in Urdu suggesting cowardice and treachery — as officials arrived.

Political observers called the protest a public embarrassment for Pakistan’s military leadership, saying it reflects growing discontent among Pakistani expatriates.

Talks Likely to Touch on Regional Security

While official details of Munir’s meeting with Trump remain undisclosed, it's expected that the dialogue will address pressing concerns such as counterterrorism cooperation and regional stability. This visit comes shortly after heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, following the Pahalgam terror attack in May.

In the aftermath of that attack, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar attributed responsibility to Pakistan’s military leadership. He accused Munir of holding extreme religious views and suggested a link between such ideology and the targeted killings carried out by Lashkar-e-Taiba, where 26 victims were selected based on their faith.

Meanwhile, Trump has taken credit for de-escalating the conflict, claiming his administration’s trade stance helped facilitate peace. However, Indian officials have categorically rejected that assertion, saying there was no trade-based mediation involved in their ceasefire agreement with Pakistan.