Pakistan’s Army Chief Asim Munir is expected to attend the 250th US Army Day anniversary, which will also coincide with President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday, on June 14.
Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Syed Asim Munir, is set to visit Washington, DC, on June 12 following an invitation from the United States to attend the US Army’s 250th anniversary celebrations. The celebrations on June 14 will coincide with President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday.
According to a CNN-News18 report citing intelligence sources, the US is expected to use this high-level military engagement to press Pakistan on countering terrorist groups operating against India.
The invitation has not been well received in Pakistan, as many have labelled him a “criminal” and are protesting his US visit. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is planning a protest against the Army Chief’s visit to the States.
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The US extended the invitation in part due to Pakistan’s close ties with China, which Washington sees as its rival not only in trade but also across economic, technological, military, and geopolitical domains.
Pakistan’s close ties with China have been a cause of concern for not only India but also the US. The deepening military, economic, and strategic cooperation between the two countries has affected the balance of power and stability in South Asia and beyond.
The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has not only increased Pakistan’s economic and infrastructural reliance on Beijing, but it also provides China with direct access to the Arabian Sea and a strategic alternative to the Malacca Strait. CPEC is the most developed land corridor of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which China launched in 2013. It involves over 140 countries in Asia, Europe, and Africa.
In return, China is heavily investing in Pakistan’s energy, transport, and defence sectors. It is also transferring advanced military technology and joint weapons development programs.
Since CPEC will connect China’s western region, Xinjiang, to Pakistan’s Gwadar Port on the Arabian Sea, it raises security concerns and may enable China to project power in the Indian Ocean and near critical maritime chokepoints.
On the other hand, Pakistan is expected to use this opportunity to raise concerns about the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which operates from Afghan territory.
It may also seek US support on the Kashmir issue with India. However, such efforts are unlikely to yield results, as India has consistently rejected third-party involvement, and the US maintains a firm stance in favour of bilateral resolution.
