On June 18 at the White House, former U.S. President Donald Trump held a private lunch with Pakistan’s newly promoted Field Marshal and Army Chief, General Asim Munir—marking the first meeting of its kind since 2001. Trump praised both Munir and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for defusing the recent India–Pakistan conflict, crediting them with preventing an escalation that risked nuclear confrontation. He also acknowledged Pakistan’s strategic counter‑terrorism role in Kabul and regional dynamics, and reportedly recommended Munir for a Nobel Peace Prize.

The meeting has sparked strong reactions in India. Indian Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh condemned it as "embarrassing," criticizing Pakistan’s civilian leadership being sidelined and warning of a potential China–Turkey strategic nexus. The Opposition Congress called the lunch a diplomatic reversal for India, seeing in it a troubling international pivot. U.S. analysts say Trump’s gesture reflects both personal admiration for assertive military leaders and broader strategic recalibrations given Pakistan’s role in crypto and mineral sectors.