No plan finalised: FO contradicts report on army chief’s US visit

Pakistan on Thursday contradicted a media report suggesting that the visit of Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir to the United States had been finalised, saying there was no confirmed plan for such a visit.

Responding to a question during the weekly press briefing, a Foreign Office spokesperson said that the Reuters story gave the impression that the visit had been planned and was final, which was not the case.

“I can contradict the Reuters story in its essence, as it seemed to suggest that the visit has been planned and there is a finality about it,” the spokesperson said, adding that no such finality existed at this stage.

The clarification came after Reuters reported that Field Marshal Munir was expected to travel to Washington in the coming weeks to meet US President Donald Trump, with discussions likely to focus on Washington’s proposal for a Gaza stabilisation force.

The report, citing sources, said the proposed force could include troops from Muslim-majority countries as part of a broader reconstruction and transition plan for Gaza.

According to Reuters, the US-backed plan has generated concern among several countries, amid fears that participation could draw them into the conflict and provoke domestic backlash.

The report also noted that Pakistan’s leadership has previously signalled caution, with Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar stating last month that while Islamabad could consider peacekeeping roles, disarming Hamas was “not our job”.

Asked about potential Pakistan-US economic cooperation in the context of the reported visit — including trade or investment initiatives similar to the Reko Diq project — the spokesperson did not comment on any prospective economic package linked to military-level engagements.

The question also touched on alleged disinformation by Indian media, including reporting following the Bondi Beach terror attack in Australia, which the journalist said had defamed Pakistan for several days.

In response, the spokesperson reiterated Pakistan’s concerns over what it describes as recurring disinformation campaigns but did not specify whether Islamabad had formally raised the issue at any international forum.

The spokesperson was also asked about Pakistan’s position on participation in any international stabilisation force linked to a Gaza peace plan. No direct response was given on Pakistan’s involvement, beyond earlier official statements emphasising that Pakistan’s stance on Gaza remains grounded in support for a ceasefire, humanitarian relief, and a just political settlement.

The Reuters report had said that Field Marshal Munir had recently engaged with military and civilian leaders from several Muslim countries, including Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt, and Qatar, which analysts believed were consultations related to the Gaza proposal. It also noted domestic sensitivities in Pakistan, where any troop deployment to Gaza under a US-backed plan could trigger public opposition.

The Foreign Office maintained that media speculation should not be treated as confirmation of policy decisions, stressing that official positions would be conveyed through formal channels when appropriate.

It should be noted that CDF Munir has visited the US three times this year.

In his first visit to Washington in June, which came just a month after the Pakistan-India conflict in May, Field Marshal Munir met with President Donald Trump over luncheon. This was the first time in history that a US president had hosted Pakistan’s army chief at the White House unaccompanied by senior civilian officials.

The second visit came in August, which the army chief said set a “new dimension” in ties between Washington and Islamabad. He also engaged in high-level interactions with senior political and military leadership, as well as members of the Pakistani diaspora.

Meanwhile, in September, Field Marshal Munir, accompanied by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, visited the White House and met Trump to discuss regional security and cooperation along the lines of counter-terrorism and other matters.