Trump, Munir weigh Iran options: US wants airspace access, Pakistan fears border blowback

When US President Donald Trump sat down for an extended two-hour lunch with Pakistan’s Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir at the White House, it sent a clear message: Washington sees Rawalpindi, not Islamabad, as Pakistan’s true centre of power. The meeting, shrouded in secrecy and arranged through backchannels, revolved around one pressing issue: the escalating Israel-Iran conflict, and the role Pakistan might play if it spirals into a wider regional war.

Asked whether Iran was discussed during the meeting, Trump responded cryptically, “Well, they know Iran very well, better than most, and they are not happy about anything… It’s not that they are bad with Israel. They know them both, actually, but they probably, maybe they know Iran better, but they see what’s going on, and he agreed with me.”

Reports suggest that Trump is also rethinking his options on joining Israeli strikes, fearing the involvement of US in a full-blown war in the

Why US is turning to Pakistan’s Army

According to Indian assessments, the US is exploring the use of Pakistan’s airspace and military infrastructure for a possible strike on Iran, especially if Israel’s assault escalates into a wider regional war, reports The Indian Express.

With US forces stretched and bases in the Gulf under threat, Pakistan’s strategic geography becomes critical. And only one man can green-light such cooperation: Asim Munir.

The Pakistan Army confirmed that a “detailed exchange of views” took place on Iran-Israel tensions and emphasized the “importance of resolution.” But behind this diplomatic language lies a far more tactical conversation – one involving overflight permissions, border management, intelligence sharing, and counterterrorism contingencies.

Pakistan’s Iran dilemma

Pakistan finds itself walking a tightrope. While it condemned Israel’s bombing of Iran as a violation of international law, it also fears that Iran’s destabilisation could open up a new frontier of chaos along its 900-kilometre shared border, especially in the ethnically restive Baluch regions on both sides, reports Reuters.

Pakistan is particularly alarmed by the risk of ungoverned spaces on the Iranian side that could become a breeding ground for jihadist and separatist militias. It is also apprehensive of the threat posed by Jaish al-Adl, an anti-Iran Sunni Baluch group based in Pakistan, which has welcomed the Israel-Iran war as an “opportunity.” Another factor of risk is the possibility of retaliation by Iran-backed groups or an upsurge in Baluch nationalist movements seeking to create a “Greater Balochistan” cutting across both countries.

“There’s a fear of ungoverned spaces, which would be fertile ground for terrorist groups,” Reuters quoted former Pakistani ambassador Maleeha Lodhi as saying.

Fractured region, shifting loyalties

Ironically, Iran had been drawing closer to India until Israel’s airstrikes upended the regional balance. While Pakistan and Iran even traded missile fire earlier this year, the Israel-Iran war has recalibrated priorities. India has not condemned the Israeli attacks, further isolating Tehran and nudging it, reluctantly, closer to Islamabad.

Meanwhile, China is watching nervously, concerned about security in Balochistan where it has invested billions through its China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Baluch insurgents have already targeted Chinese workers, and Beijing is wary of growing instability.