Field Marshal Asim Munir, Pakistan’s Chief of Defense Forces and Army Staff, is expected to travel to Washington in the coming weeks to discuss his country’s role in the Gaza Stabilization Force with U.S. President Donald Trump, two sources told Reuters on Wednesday.
The meeting will be his third in six months, with Islamabad reportedly tapped by Trump to contribute a considerable force of some 20,000 troops to the Gaza Strip.
“Not contributing could annoy Trump, which is no small matter for a Pakistani state that appears quite keen to remain in his good graces—in great part to secure U.S. investment and security aid,” Reuters quoted Michael Kugelman, a senior fellow at the Washington-based Atlantic Council, as saying.
In June, Munir was invited for a White House lunch, the first time a U.S. president hosted Pakistan’s army chief alone, without civilian officials, according to the report.
Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said in November that Islamabad could consider contributing troops for peacekeeping but that disarming Hamas “is not our job,” Reuters reported.
Pakistan’s parliament passed legislation last month that grants Munir lifetime immunity from any criminal prosecution while retaining his field marshal title for life. He was moreover appointed as chief of the defense forces to lead the air force and navy as well, with a job extension until 2030, the report continued.
“Few people in Pakistan enjoy the luxury of being able to take risks more than Munir. He has unbridled power, now constitutionally protected,” Kugelman added.
However, Pakistan’s Islamist parties and wide Islamist ideology in the country could pose a challenge to a Pakistani force deployed to Gaza—perceived as a measure that caters to Israel’s and the United States’ interests.
“People will say ‘Asim Munir is doing Israel’s bidding’—it will be foolhardy of anyone not to see it coming,” said Abdul Basit, a senior associate fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore.
