Michael Kugelman, an expert in foreign policy, joins Misbah Azam and Faraz Darvesh in a discussion about the recent visit of General Asim Munir, the Chief of Army Staff of Pakistan, to the United States. The visit, which extended beyond Washington included a meeting with the US Secretary-General in New York, marking a significant event given the considerable time since their last interaction.
Despite the ongoing global focus on issues such as the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, Pakistan is not directly involved in these matters. However, the presence of Pakistan's powerful political leader, the Army Chief, in the US presents an opportunity, at least in theory, to reset relations.
This leads to the question: What is the connection between the American government and the Army Chief, and vice versa? From the perspective of the Army Chief, there are several crucial issues that, unfortunately, the Americans may not be inclined to discuss.
These include the Kashmir dispute, India, allegations against India regarding an assassination plot, or urging the US to reconsider its relationship with India. Additionally, a significant concern could be the mass expulsion of Afghan refugees, requiring the Americans to seek reassurance on this matter.