Field Marshal Asim Munir, President Trump discuss Iran at White House

• Trump says has honour of meeting with Field Marshal Munir.
• Says has not made decision on how to proceed on Iran.
• Iran wants to meet and US side "may do that", says Trump.

Amid rising tensions in the Middle East, Field Marshal Asim Munir and US President Donald Trump discussed the Iran-Israel conflict at the White House.

The development came during a rare one-on-one meeting between Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) Munir and President Trump over lunch at the White House Cabinet Room.

During his interaction with journalists following the key meeting, the US president said that he had the “honour” of meeting with Field Marshal Munir. The US president maintained that he invited the army chief to thank him for ending the war with India.

“Well, they (Pakistan) know Iran. Better than most,” Trump added. He further said that a trade deal was being discussed with Pakistan.

Responding to another question, President Trump said he has not made a decision on how to proceed on Iran and he will hold a meeting later in the day in the White House Situation Room.

He added that Iran wants to meet and the US side "may do that." Trump said that Israel was “doing well” in its attacks aimed at dismantling Iran's nuclear facilities.

The US president further stated that he believed that Iran was close to developing a nuclear weapon before the attacks began.

It is pertinent to mention here that Islamabad is eyeing strengthened ties with Washington based on geopolitical realities, mutual trust, and a development-oriented partnership.

Speaking on Geo News, former senator and Chairman Pakistan-China Institute Mushahid Hussain Syed said that US President Trump does not want tensions to escalate between Pakistan and India.

He noted that the focus of the meeting between Trump and Field Marshal Munir will be the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict as well as the regional situation involving India.

"I believe Trump would be keen to hear the field marshal's analysis on the Iran-Israel war," he said.

In response to a question, Mushahid said that Trump is expected to make a decision within the next two days on whether the United States will join the war.

He remarked that after Pakistan's decisive military performance, Trump now views Pakistan's leadership from a new strategic lens. "Trump has always said he likes winners, not losers," he added.

The former senator added that Trump's meeting with the Pakistani army chief would cause "mourning in India".

"Pakistan dealt a military blow to India, while the US delivered a diplomatic setback," he said, adding that despite Indian opposition, Trump acknowledged that resolving the Kashmir issue was essential.

Earlier, former foreign minister and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari termed the upcoming meeting between COAS Munir and President Trump "a positive step in Pakistan-US relations".

"Especially given the president's role in mediating a ceasefire," he wrote.

"Following Pakistan's decisive victory in the recent five-day war, India has regrettably resisted all efforts toward a permanent peace, including US-led diplomacy."

"Pakistan neither seeks conflict nor are we desperate for dialogue. But we do recognise that peace is in both nations’ interests. There is no military solution to our disputes."

"India's weaponisation of water, repression in Kashmir, and politicisation of terrorism are unsustainable positions. The path forward lies in honest diplomacy — not denial," he concluded.

During his US visit, COAS Munir also met overseas Pakistanis in Washington DC a day earlier.

The army chief lauded the diaspora's contributions to the country's economy and global reputation by contributing actively through remittances, investments and higher achievements in other domains, as per the ISPR.