WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump has described recent remarks by Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir, as “an honour,” after the military leader credited him with preventing a full-scale conflict between Pakistan and India.
Speaking to senior US military officials on Tuesday, Trump said Field Marshal Munir praised his role in defusing tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, saying that his efforts saved “countless lives.”
“He said if the war had taken place, it would have been much worse,” Trump told the gathering, adding that he was personally moved by the acknowledgment. “I really liked his comment,” he remarked. Trump noted that the Pakistani army chief had made the observation in front of several others, including two American generals, which gave the statement greater weight.
The US president and Field Marshal Munir have met twice in recent months. Their first encounter was a luncheon in July at the White House Cabinet Room, where Munir lauded Trump’s statesmanship and his ability to navigate complex global challenges. A second meeting took place earlier this month at the White House, attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif alongside Trump and Munir.
During that Oval Office meeting, Prime Minister Sharif also praised Trump, describing him as a “man of peace” whose bold and decisive actions had helped secure a ceasefire between Pakistan and India. According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, Sharif credited Trump with averting what could have become a “major catastrophe” in South Asia.
The exchanges come against a backdrop of renewed diplomatic engagement between Washington and Islamabad, with both governments highlighting cooperation in regional stability, counterterrorism, and economic ties.
