One year after taking over as army chief, Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, General Asim Munir Shah is visiting Washington DC on his first visit as army chief for two days, December 13 and 14.
Munir’s predecessor, General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa, was the last Pakistani army chief to visit the US when he undertook a visit to Washington in October 2022. During his trip, Bajwa met US Defense Secretary General Lloyd James Austin III (retired), National Security Adviser Jacob Jeremiah Sullivan, and former deputy secretary of state Wendy Ruth Sherman.
During his visit Gen Munir is scheduled to meet senior US military and government officials. The military chief’s itinerary includes meetings with the US Secretary of Defence, Secretary of State, and the National Security Adviser at the White House.
In a press release issued by the U.S. Defense Department “Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III hosted Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir at the Pentagon today, where the two officials discussed recent regional security developments and potential areas for bilateral defense cooperation.”
For all intents and purposes General Munir is Pakistan’s de facto ruler. Will he be able to achieve what the last few army chiefs have not been able to do so – convince the U.S. that it needs to re-engage with Pakistan and provide security and economic assistance? Or will this visit simply be used by the army chief to enhance his power back home?
