Former RAW Chief
LONDON: Amarjit Singh Dulat, the former chief of India’s top intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), has described Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir’s recent luncheon meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump as a “major diplomatic development” and extended his congratulations to the people of Pakistan.
During an exclusive interview at King’s College London, where he was promoting his newly released book The Chief Minister and the Spy, Dulat remarked that the two-hour White House meeting was of “huge significance” for U.S.-Pakistan relations.
“I congratulate Field Marshal Asim Munir and the people of Pakistan. It’s a moment of pride,” Dulat said, adding, “Now the Field Marshal should visit India and meet Prime Minister Modi at Hyderabad House, and even travel to Amritsar. I believe hardline positions can be softened. In 2015, Modi visited Pakistan for Nawaz Sharif’s granddaughter’s wedding. Things can improve. Someone needs to bowl the first ball. Imran Khan is in jail, so perhaps Field Marshal Munir or Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif should make the move.”
Reflecting on the broader diplomatic context, Dulat acknowledged that relations between India and Pakistan are currently “frozen,” particularly after the recent armed conflict. However, he expressed optimism. “If a landmark meeting like that can happen in Washington, why not in Delhi?” he asked rhetorically.
Dulat said the luncheon in the White House Cabinet Room, accompanied by Oval Office discussions, symbolized a new chapter in U.S.-Pakistan ties. He emphasized that this was the first time such an engagement had taken place in such a setting, and said, “It’s a big step forward for Pakistan, and I hope it leads to more direct engagement between the two South Asian neighbors.”
Commenting on the Pahalgam attack that had triggered tensions, the former RAW chief candidly admitted that there was no direct evidence linking Pakistan to the assault. “Sometimes there is no evidence. The attackers fled. That’s what they are trained to do. It was an intelligence failure, and these happen,” he said. However, he noted that in India, it is widely believed that Pakistan played a role.
He also acknowledged the complex political calculations that led Prime Minister Modi to respond militarily. “There’s politics in these matters. Modi had a political compulsion — a ‘majboori’ — but I maintain that war is dangerous and must be avoided.”
Speaking warmly about his personal experiences in Pakistan, Dulat revealed that he had visited the country four times between 2010 and 2012 after retiring from service. “I was treated with unmatched hospitality. We simply cannot replicate that in India. I enjoyed every visit,” he said. He also mentioned his close friendship with former ISI chief General Asad Durrani, calling him “a great friend.”
Meanwhile, during the high-level meeting at the White House, Field Marshal Munir praised President Trump’s “constructive and result-oriented role” in helping achieve a ceasefire following the recent four-day conflict with India.
Trump, joined by Secretary of State Senator Marco Rubio and Special Representative Steve Witkoff, lauded Munir’s leadership and praised Pakistan’s contributions to regional peace, particularly its cooperation in counter-terrorism.
The two leaders reportedly discussed broader regional dynamics, bilateral cooperation in areas such as defense and intelligence, and prospects for peace in South Asia.
This unprecedented meeting marks a potential turning point in regional diplomacy and has been widely viewed as a significant elevation of Pakistan’s strategic engagement with the United States.
