New York : Pakistan’s most powerful military chief ever faces the toughest test of his newly amassed powers as Washington pushes Islamabad to contribute troops to the Gaza stabilisation force, a move analysts say could spark domestic backlash. Trump’s 20-point Gaza plan calls for a force from Muslim nations to oversee a transition period for reconstruction and economic recovery in the war-torn Palestinian territory, decimated by over two years of Israeli military bombardment.
But Munir has built a close relationship with the mercurial Trump to repair years of mistrust between Washington and Islamabad. In June, he was rewarded with a White House lunch – the first time a U.S. president hosted Pakistan’s army chief alone, without civilian officials. If the Pakistanis declined to be a part of this mission, then that might disappoint Trump. Pakistan, the world’s only Muslim country with nuclear weapons, has a battle-hardened military having gone to war with arch-rival India three times and a brief conflict this summer.
It has also tackled insurgencies in its far-flung regions and is currently embroiled in a bruising war with Islamist militants who it says are operating from Afghanistan. Pakistan’s military strength has triggered interest from Trump, said author and defence analyst Ayesha Siddiqa. Trump is also happy for that engagement because he looks at Pakistan’s military capability, institutional capability, and knows that they can fight, she said. Pakistan’s military, foreign office and information ministry did not respond to questions from Reuters. The White House also did not respond to a request for a comment.
He will retain his field marshal title forever, as well as enjoy a lifetime immunity from any criminal prosecution under the constitutional amendments that Pakistan’s civilian government pushed through parliament late last month. We’ve seen what I would argue to be unprecedented changes to Pakistan’s constitution that have resulted in what could best be described as the unbridled power of Asim Munir,” Kugelman added.
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