Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir is scheduled to visit the United States this week to attend the retirement ceremony of US Central Command (Centcom) chief General Michael Kurilla, foreign media reported on Thursday.
This marks Field Marshal Munir’s second trip to the US in under two months, reflecting ongoing high-level military and diplomatic engagement between Islamabad and Washington. While no official details have emerged regarding other meetings during his visit, the COAS is expected to interact with key US officials on the sidelines of the ceremony.
General Kurilla, who has earned admiration in Islamabad for his pro-engagement approach, was recently conferred the Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Military) by President Asif Ali Zardari on July 26 for his contributions to bilateral defence cooperation.
Second High-Level US Visit in Two Months
Field Marshal Munir’s upcoming trip follows his rare and significant visit to the US in June, which included a one-on-one meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House attended by US Secretary of State Senator Marco Rubio, Special Envoy for Middle Eastern Affairs Steve Witkoff, and Pakistan’s National Security Adviser.
That visit came at a tense moment in South Asia, as Pakistan and India stood on the brink of full-scale war following deadly strikes in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and cross-border escalation.
New Delhi’s strikes conducted under the pretext of targeting alleged militants behind the Pahalgam attack were met with a forceful Pakistani response. Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos was launched, resulting in the downing of six Indian fighter jets, including three Rafales, and a series of retaliatory cross-border attacks.
The 87-hour confrontation claimed the lives of 13 Pakistani soldiers and 40 civilians, with diplomatic channels activated swiftly to prevent further escalation.
President Trump played a key role in mediating a ceasefire, earning praise from Field Marshal Munir for his “constructive and result-oriented diplomacy” during a time of acute regional volatility.
Strengthening Bilateral Ties
The June visit also featured wide-ranging talks on enhancing US-Pakistan cooperation across sectors including trade, energy, artificial intelligence, minerals, and emerging technologies. According to sources, discussions covered Pakistan’s potential in the cryptocurrency space and its ambitions for digital transformation.
Following the army chief’s visit, momentum built quickly toward the finalisation of a landmark trade agreement between the two countries.
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, during a follow-up trip to Washington, held key meetings with the US Secretary of Commerce and the Trade Representative. The talks resulted in the reduction of tariffs on Pakistani goods and laid the groundwork for strategic collaboration, especially in the textile and energy sectors.
While exact terms of the trade pact have not been made public, the Ministry of Finance confirmed that the agreement would bring down reciprocal tariffs and open new doors for Pakistani exports to the US.
President Trump publicly confirmed the agreement on social media, stating that the US and Pakistan would be “working together on developing their massive oil reserves,” with plans underway to select the leading American energy company to spearhead the initiative.
A Broader Strategic Vision
Under the new understanding, Islamabad and Washington are set to deepen ties in areas such as energy security, digital economy, clean tech, AI, and blockchain.
Field Marshal Munir’s renewed trip is expected to reinforce this strategic pivot, while also reaffirming Pakistan’s military diplomacy and its crucial role in maintaining regional stability.
Although the current visit is centred around General Kurilla’s farewell, observers suggest that Field Marshal Munir’s engagements may also set the tone for a broader roadmap in US-Pakistan military and economic cooperation.
