Pakistan’s powerful army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, is set to have a luncheon meeting with US President Donald Trump today – a rare gesture that reflects the deepening influence of Pakistani military elites in Washington. The meeting, confirmed in the White House schedule, comes amid rising tensions in the Middle East and is part of Munir’s five-day visit to strengthen bilateral ties.
Munir’s invitation to the Oval Office was reportedly orchestrated by Sajid Tarar, a Pakistani‑American businessman, who is also considered a close confidant of Trump. Tarar, who founded ‘American Muslims for Trump’, has cultivated strong ties within Republican circles, and now appears to be reshaping US–Pakistan diplomacy by facilitating a high‑profile engagement between military leaders.
A prominent presence at the past three Republican National Conventions, Tarar has maintained a strong affiliation with the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement.
Tarar’s influence within Trump’s inner circle is evident from the fact that the former’s son secured a position at the US State Department during Trump’s first term.
Why Pakistan should be concerned?
While Sajid Tarar is being celebrated in some Pakistani circles for facilitating high-profile access to Trump, his political track record should raise alarm bells in Islamabad. Tarar has built his brand in the US by aligning with Trump’s hard-right rhetoric, often distancing himself from Pakistan’s broader democratic concerns. His organisation, American Muslims for Trump, has rarely spoken up against Trump’s policies targeting Muslim countries, including the travel ban.
His praise for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and India's model, and critiques of Pakistan's conservatism suggest he’s more aligned with foreign politicians than Pakistan’s democratic trajectory.
The Trump–Munir luncheon signals a pivot toward a personalised diplomatic channel that bypasses Pakistan’s formal foreign policy apparatus. Tarar's power-broker role suggests a move away from institutional oversight - favouring private networks and transactional relationships.
What is also notable is the complete absence of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s government in this outreach. It reinforces a familiar pattern in Pakistan’s foreign policy: the military establishment running parallel diplomacy, often at odds with elected leadership.
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