On June 18, 2025, Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir, met privately with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House for an unusual and strategically significant lunch. This is the first such meeting between a U.S. president and Pakistan’s military leader since 2001.
Pakistan has long been known as a DeFacto military dictatorship state. No Pakistan Prime Minister has been allowed to manage even much of their own affairs. In fact, the previous and most popular Pakistani political leader Imran Khan is still in jail after having been ousted by the very same quasi dictatorship.
Pakistan has been used a client state since its inception with the USA first using it against the Soviets then putting it up as an access point for Afghanistan. Pakistan has no real economy in correspondence to its population, so it needs bailouts from international organizations. These bailouts are usually backed by the US or China both of whom have their own stakes in the region as well as wielding a geopolitical control.
Now with the dangerous situation developing in the middle east Pakistan has once again been called into play. It seems the United States is again looking at Islamabad for providing Intel, input and bases with Iran now on its radar.
Talks with Trump
Pakistan had been involved in a clash with India just a few weeks back. After a shocking attack on Hindu tourists in Kashmir with 26 being gunned down for their religion by terrorists from organizations in Pakistan. India responded with a blistering Operation Sindoor bombarding Pakistani Air bases and terror hideouts in retaliation against the Pakistan state which has long harbored a number of terror organizations.
The clash eventually calmed down when both sides agreed to a temporary ceasefire which Donald Trump has been claiming was due to his intervention. Claims that have been completely dismissed by the Indian side. However, it seems once again Pakistan has dialed its favorite number to escape its problems by calling Washington to save it from yet another crisis.
Trump who had earlier been extremely critical of Pakistan has now done a 180. Speaking on the Pak Army Chief Trump said, “I wanted to thank him for… helping to prevent an escalation between India and Pakistan,” Trump said, praising Pakistan’s role in avoiding war and “two big nuclear powers” stepping back from conflict”
As expected, Pakistan has resorted to extreme flattery with Munir reportedly offering to recommend Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Pakistan US relationship
The U.S. and Pakistan have a long, complicated military history—marked by cooperation, mistrust, and periods of strategic alignment.
After 9/11, Pakistan became a frontline ally, allowing the U.S. to use its airbases (notably Shamsi Airbase in Balochistan and the Nur Khan base in Rawalpindi have been known for US control) with drone operations and logistics into Afghanistan.
The U.S. provided billions in aid for counterterrorism operations. Pakistani officers have received training in the U.S., and ISI and CIA have historically collaborated—despite friction.
The bases in the crucial areas will now come in extremely handy if USA begins its all-out assault on Iran. It can encircle the nation with a Pakistan giving it that access. Pakistan is long known for its betrayal and double game tactics. On the face of it, Islamabad gives strong words backing Iran but in practice its Army Chief is busy making secret deals with the USA. This is not new, Pakistan had done something extremely similar against Afghanistan before.
Now in time it will become clear how exactly the USA will make use of Pakistan and how Iran has to manage its Eastern borders as well. Tehran has been betrayed by Pakistan but that should have been expected by Iran’s leaders.
