US President Donald Trump said that Field Marshal Asim Munir was the most powerful man in Pakistan; a man who wielded a lot of influence, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Thursday.
Speaking to the media men after a luncheon he hosted in honour of the field marshal at the White House on Wednesday, the US president said that Asim played a key role in stopping the war with India.
He informed that talks were underway to strike a trade deal with Pakistan. The president again said he was the one who had stopped the war between India and Pakistan.
He declared the leadership of both India and Pakistan ‘smart’. Trump said he had discussed with the field marshal the Israel-Iran war.
Trump further said that Pakistan knew Iran better than others, and the country was not pleased with the present situation. He went on to say that he loved Pakistan.
He further said his country did not want to enter into a war with Iran, but added that the stage of talks with Iran was over.
The US president said that he had been saying this for quite some time that Iran could not get nuclear weapons. “But the truth is that before the start of the war with Israel, Iran was just weeks away from becoming a nuclear power,” he said and added, “The US does not want the war between Israel and Iran to stop, but an emphatic victory for the former.”
Speaking on the occasion, Field Marshal Asim Munir, on behalf of the people of Pakistan, thanked the president for mediating that led to a ceasefire between India and Pakistan.
The field marshal praised Trump for his better understanding of the world issues and his leadership qualities.
Sources told the 24News TV channel that the US president acknowledged Pakistan’s collaboration in the war on terror and its efforts for maintaining peace in the region.
Both leaders agreed to continue to cooperate to eliminate terrorism.
They also concurred that the US and Pakistan should enhance cooperation in trade and commerce, especially in the sectors of minerals, IT, energy, cryptocurrency and others.
According to the ISPR, Field Marshal Asim, on the occasion, invited Trump to visit Pakistan.
From Pakistan’s side, Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Naqvi, while from the US side, the country’s Secretary of State Marco Rubio was also present on the occasion.
Reporter: Ahmad Mansoor