As Trump warms to Munir, US intel raises red flag
What's the story
Pakistan's Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir has become the first foreign leader to visit Iran amid escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran. Munir has close ties with both US President Donald Trump and Iran's military leadership, and is said to have established Iran connections during his tenure as Pakistan's Director General of Military Intelligence from 2016-2017. Retired Pakistani General Ahmed Saeed revealed that Munir interacted with the Iranian leadership, the intelligence community, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Rising unease
Munir's ties to IRGC a 'red flag' for Trump: Report
Saeed also said that Munir has connections with Iran's regular army and intelligence. He had close ties with former IRGC Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani and commander Hossein Salami, who was killed in a US strike in 2020. Bill Roggio, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, cautioned against trusting Pakistanis due to past actions in Afghanistan. He called Munir's ties to the IRGC a "massive red flag" for Trump's administration.
Caution
Critics urge caution
Critics have repeatedly described Islamabad as an unreliable partner, citing allegations that it received significant US assistance while simultaneously tolerating or enabling Taliban-linked networks. Pakistani analyst Raza Rumi stated that the rise of figures like Munir demonstrates how the military is "increasingly eclipsing" civilian leadership in Pakistan, reflecting a broader pattern of military dominance in the political landscape.
Diplomatic efforts
Munir meets Iranian leadership, negotiators for US-Iran peace talks
Munir recently concluded a three-day visit to Iran, where he met the country's top leadership and peace negotiators. The visit was aimed at securing a peace deal between the US and Iran. He held talks with Iran's president, foreign minister, parliament speaker, and head of military central command. A second round of talks between the US and Iran is expected in Islamabad next week.