Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir, currently on his first visit to the United States, has refuted rumors regarding special screening, visa denials, and detentions for the Pakistani diaspora.
He emphasized the high regard in which the Pakistani diaspora is held globally, acknowledging their role as ambassadors of Pakistan and significant contributors to the country.
During his visit, General Munir interacted with the Pakistani overseas community at a reception hosted by the Embassy of Pakistan. Asim Munir also held meetings with key US government and military officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Secretary of Defense General Lloyd J Austin (retired), Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland, Deputy National Security Adviser Jonathan Finer, and Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff General Charles Q Brown.
Discussions during these meetings covered bilateral interests, global and regional security issues, and ongoing conflicts. Both sides expressed their commitment to continued engagement to explore potential avenues for bilateral collaboration in pursuit of shared interests.
Counterterrorism cooperation and defense collaboration were identified as core areas of cooperation during discussions with defense officials. The intent to increase interaction and explore ways to expand mutually beneficial engagements was reiterated by both sides.
General Munir underscored the importance of understanding each other’s perspectives on regional security issues and emphasized the significance of resolving the Kashmir issue by international law and relevant UNSC resolutions.
The press release also highlighted the Chief of Army Staff’s appreciation for the role played by the Pakistani overseas community in the progress and development of the country. Discussions during the interaction covered various dimensions, and General Munir encouraged the diaspora to invest through the Special Investment Facilitation Council, which has already seen success in various dimensions.
General Munir dispelled rumors about special screening, visa denials, and detentions for the Pakistani community in the US. He emphasized that the US is the largest export market for Pakistan, constituting 21.5% of the country’s total exports.
During his visit, General Munir met with Tanweer Ahmed, who had donated $9 million to the National University of Sciences & Technology in the field of IT development in Pakistan. The Army Chief commended Ahmed, stating that Pakistan is proud of heroes like him.
