On June 18, when US President Donald Trump hosted Pakistani Army Chief “Field Marshal” Asim Munir at the White House and declared, “I love Pakistan”, the moment was greeted with jubilation across Pakistan and among pro-Pakistan circles in Bangladesh. Many interpreted this as the dawn of a new alliance, symbolizing the triumph of Islamabad and the “Muslim ummah” over so-called “infidels” and “enemies of Islam”.

During the White House luncheon, President Trump called Asim Munir “extremely influential”, hinting at the beginning of a new chapter of close cooperation between his administration and Pakistan Army. International media outlets celebrated the occasion, with Nikkei Asia reporting, “The lunch meeting between US President Donald Trump and Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, at the White House on Wednesday proved something of a diplomatic breakthrough as Islamabad woos Trump with its recently announced national crypto reserve plan…”

Commenting on this development, research scholar and Middle East affairs expert Peter Baum noted in Blitz, “It is extremely difficult to analyze the immediate impact of the current military action, but clearly it must have been both dramatic and devastating for those in control in Iran. Where can the regime go from here, given their proxies in Lebanon, Yemen, Gaza and Syria have also been severely weakened these last few months? The Iranians have been outmaneuvered, and Netanyahu’s tactics have succeeded”.

Baum added, “Iran’s primary political and military allies – China and Russia – are apparently not stepping in to assist. Even Pakistan retreated from Iran’s clumsy attempt to engage them militarily. In fact, President Trump’s early departure from the recent G7 meeting to welcome Pakistan’s military leaders suggests Pakistani duplicity in its so-called alliance with Iran”.

Baum continued, “Pakistan’s subsequent call for President Trump to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize? How very strange. Now analysts are asking what Trump offered Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir in exchange for this unprecedented White House........

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