US President Donald Trump has described Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir as a "highly respected general" while reiterating claims that he helped prevent a potential “nuclear war” between Pakistan and India, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Tuesday.
Speaking during an interaction with reporters in Florida alongside Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth and Secretary of the Navy John Phelan on Monday, Trump said: "We stopped a potential nuclear war between Pakistan and India."
The US president went on to say that "highly respected general, he is a field marshal" and also the Prime Minister of Pakistan credited him with saving 10 million lives by stopping the war. "You know, eight planes were shot down (during the Pakistan-India war). That war was going to rage," Trump said.
The US president claimed that he has stopped eight wars so far.
Trump has repeatedly claimed credit for easing tensions between the nuclear-armed rivals, which have fought three wars since independence and remain locked in a dispute over Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
In May, Pakistan and India engaged in a military showdown, the worst between the old foes in decades, which was sparked by an attack on tourists in Occupied Kashmir's Pahalgam area. Islamabad denied involvement in the Kashmir attack, which killed 26 tourists.
After the incident, India killed several innocent civilians in unprovoked attacks on Pakistan for three days before Pakistan Armed Forces retaliated in defence with the successful Operation Bunyanum Marsoos.
Pakistan downed seven IAF fighter jets, including three Rafale, and dozens of drones. After at least 87 hours, the war between the two nuclear-armed nations ended on May 10 with a ceasefire agreement brokered by the US.
Later, Trump showered praises on the Pakistani army chief once again, calling him a "great fighter" while speaking at a luncheon during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju, South Korea, in October.
Trump commended PM Shehbaz and COAS Munir's efforts in promoting regional stability.
"I'm doing a trade deal with India, and I have great respect and love for Prime Minister Modi. We have a great relationship,” he said.
"Likewise, the Prime Minister of Pakistan is a great guy. They have a Field Marshal. You know why he's a Field Marshal? He's a great fighter. And so I know them all.