Why Pakistani media says Asim Munir's meeting with Trump is 'unsettling in many ways'

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Pakistani media has hailed General Asim Munir’s meeting with Donald Trump as “extraordinary” and “unprecedented,” describing it as a rare instance where the country’s military chief received an exclusive invitation from a sitting US President.

However, one fact could not escape the notice of Pakistani media: the notable absence of any civilian leader during talks with Trump.

Wednesday's meeting was the first interaction by Trump with a high-ranking Pakistani official since Operation Sindoor and the consequent regional conflict, signalling that the all-powerful military indeed calls the shot in the neighbouring country.

Pakistani media called out the absence of any government official in US, especially at a time when Islamabad is desperately looking to repair ties with Washington.

"Notably absent (from the meeting) were any Pakistani civilian officials. No ambassador, no foreign minister — only the army chief and Pakistan’s top intelligence officer, Lt Gen Asim Malik, who also serves as national security adviser," Dawn said in a report about the meeting.

It further said that the presence of only Pakistani military officials was rather "unsettling".

" ... the scene at the Cabinet Room — Trump seated across from Pakistani generals, while Pakistan’s political leadership remained invisible was unsettling in many ways," it said.

Former Pakistan minister Shi­­reen Mazari wondered how a democratic country can send just its military officials for such meetings.

“Any foreign government seeking alliance/support from a democracy normally deals with civilian leadership! But Pak­istan sends a different message now!" Mazari said.

On Wednesday, the Pakistani army chief met Trump for lunch and held discussions over several issues, including the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict, the hostilities with India and cryptocurrency.

India's defence secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh took a swipe at Pakistan over the meeting, calling it an embarrassment for the Shehbaz Sharif government.

In an interview to ANI, Singh said that it is an embarrassment for Pakistan that its military chief is representing the country while the civilian leadership is completely absent.

“It’s an embarrassment for any country when the military chief is invited and the Prime Minister is nowhere to be seen. It's a strange thing," Singh said.

The all-powerful military in Pakistan has always played a dominant role in shaping the country's political landscape, often operating as the de facto decision-maker behind the scenes.