Field Marshal Asim Munir Meets Top US Civil-Military Leadership
COAS attends Centcom change of command ceremony; interacts with Pakistani diaspora
ISLAMABAD — Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir held a series of high-level meetings with senior political and military leaders during his official visit to the United States, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Sunday.
According to the military’s media wing, the army chief attended the retirement ceremony of outgoing United States Central Command (Centcom) commander General Michael E. Kurilla in Tampa, as well as the change of command ceremony welcoming Admiral Brad Cooper as the new Centcom chief.
Field Marshal Munir praised Gen Kurilla’s “exemplary leadership” and his role in strengthening Pakistan–US military cooperation, while extending best wishes to Admiral Cooper. He expressed confidence in continued collaboration to address shared regional and global security challenges.
During the visit, COAS Munir met Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine to discuss matters of mutual professional interest. He also invited Gen Caine to visit Pakistan and engaged with defence chiefs from several allied nations on the sidelines of the event.
In a separate session with members of the Pakistani diaspora, the army chief urged them to remain optimistic about Pakistan’s future and to play an active role in attracting investment to the country. The diaspora representatives reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Pakistan’s development.
This is Field Marshal Munir’s second US visit in recent months. In June, he met former US president Donald Trump over a luncheon in Washington, where the two sides discussed cooperation in sectors including trade, economic development, energy, emerging technologies, and the mining of oil and mineral resources. Following that meeting, Pakistan and the US reached a long-anticipated trade agreement, with Trump announcing plans for joint development of Pakistan’s oil reserves.
In July, President Asif Ali Zardari awarded Gen Kurilla the Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Military) in recognition of his contributions to regional peace and bilateral defence ties. During his Islamabad visit, Gen Kurilla also met senior Pakistani leadership to discuss counter-terrorism, regional stability, and enhanced military-to-military engagement.
