Pak Army Chief Set For US Trip, 2nd In 2 Months, Amid Trump's Tariff War
Pakistan Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir is set to visit the US for the second time in two months, according to reports in the Pakistani media
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- From: India News Bull
New Delhi:
Reports from Pakistani media indicate that Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir is preparing for his second visit to the United States within a two-month period. This upcoming trip signals strengthening relations between Islamabad and Washington, DC, occurring amid growing tensions between the US and India over export tariffs. The visit also follows President Trump's trade agreement with Pakistan, which offers preferential tariff rates to Islamabad and includes plans to explore Pakistan's oil reserves.
In a recent development, US President Donald Trump announced an additional 25 percent tariff on Indian exports as a 'penalty' for New Delhi's continued purchase of Russian crude oil. Trump also warned other countries purchasing Russian oil that they could face similar consequences.
With total tariffs on Indian exports to the US now reaching 50 percent, India's Ministry of External Affairs responded by calling the US action "unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable."
"We have already made clear our position on these issues, including the fact that our imports are based on market factors and done with the objective of ensuring the energy security of 1.4 billion people..."
"It is therefore extremely unfortunate the US should choose to impose additional tariffs on India... for actions that several other countries are also taking in their own national interest," the Indian government stated.
Field Marshal Munir previously visited Washington in June, where Trump hosted him for lunch at the White House. During that visit, Munir had indicated his expectation of returning to the US later in the year, according to Pakistan's Dawn newspaper.
Munir's planned US trip also comes after General Michael Erik Kurilla, head of the US Central Command (CENTCOM), visited Pakistan in July. During Kurilla's visit, the Pakistani government awarded him the Nishan-i-Imtiaz (military) honor.
Relations between India and the US have been strained following Operation Sindoor, India's retaliatory action after the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir that killed 26 innocent people. Trump has repeatedly claimed that he mediated the ceasefire between India and Pakistan, a claim denied by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government. "We had said from day one that our action was non-escalatory. No leader in the world asked us to stop Operation Sindoor," Prime Minister Modi stated during the Operation Sindoor debate in Parliament. The tariff increases have followed these disputed claims.