Pakistan Army Chief Faces Backlash Over Diplomatic Role in Trump Meeting

Khan challenged the official capacity in which the Army chief was engaging with foreign dignitaries.

Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir, has come under intense scrutiny following his recent visit to Washington, marking his third such trip in under six months.

An Oval Office photograph depicting Munir and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif presenting a collection of Pakistan's rare earth minerals to US President Donald Trump has sparked significant political controversy and raised serious questions in Pakistan.

The presentation, intended to showcase Pakistan's mineral resources, backfired politically. During a parliamentary session, Senator Aimal Wali Khan criticized Munir for acting "like a salesman" while the prime minister appeared to be "like a manager watching the drama."

The senator publicly questioned the constitutional authority under which the Army chief was conducting negotiations with foreign leaders, describing it as a "joke with the constitution" and showing "contempt of parliament."

"This is dictatorship, not democracy," Khan proclaimed, calling for a joint parliamentary session to explain Pakistan's endorsement of Trump's peace plan, details regarding a purported defense agreement with Saudi Arabia, and why Munir was engaging in diplomatic activities typically reserved for elected officials.

The dispute emerges amid new cooperation agreements between the US and Pakistan, covering mineral exports and refinery projects with American and European companies. While government representatives praise these arrangements as pathways to economic recovery, critics contend that having the Army chief spearhead such initiatives undermines civilian authority and presents Pakistan as diplomatically weak.

This incident is not the first time Munir's international diplomatic engagements have caused concern. His consecutive visits to Washington have intensified speculation about the military's growing influence in foreign policy, eclipsing civilian leadership during Pakistan's ongoing economic challenges and political instability.

Political analysts note that the backlash reflects widespread public dissatisfaction with military influence over governance. "The image of an army chief pitching minerals to Trump is symbolic of how Pakistan's institutions have been inverted," observed one commentator. "Instead of strengthening democracy, it makes the country look desperate and militarized."