The chief of the Pakistani army has put his country in the international spotlight thanks to the American-Iranian ceasefire, which bears his stamp. Portrait of a man highly appreciated by Donald Trump.
He is an intermediary between the United States and Iran. Marshal Asim Munir, chief of the Pakistani army, is one of the architects of the American-Iranian ceasefire. Thanks to him, United States Vice President JD Vance and envoys of Donald Trump have been in Islamabad, Pakistan, since Saturday, April 11, to negotiate with the Iranians.
Boss of military intelligence initially, then of the ISI, the powerful Pakistani intelligence agency, Asim Munir was appointed chief of the army at the end of 2022. He managed to extend his leadership over all forces (land, sea, and air) by extending his tenure and obtaining lifetime immunity. For many analysts, he is the most powerful man in the country.
“The ‘preferred marshal’ of Trump”
Propelled into the forefront of the conflict between Iran and the United States in recent days, his success lies in the ties he has forged with both parties. In April 2025, a deadly attack in Indian Kashmir triggered a brief war between India and Pakistan. As the world feared the worst between the two nuclear powers, a ceasefire was finally reached.
While India claims a bilateral success, Islamabad prefers to tell the story of Donald Trump as a mediator. In the aftermath, Pakistan nominated the American president for the Nobel Peace Prize, and the army chief publicly praised his role. After some meetings, Trump described Munir as a “great guy” and ended up referring to him as his “preferred marshal,” as reported by Le Figaro.
Behind these flatteries are important deals between the two men, as RFI recalls. The Pakistan Embassy in Washington is getting closer to lobbying companies close to the president to conclude mining exploitation agreements. During a visit to the White House in September 2025, Asim Munir presented rocks containing rare earth minerals. On January 14, he met with Zachary Witkoff, son of Steve Witkoff and CEO of World Liberty Financial, a cryptocurrency company linked to the Trump Organization. The two parties signed an agreement to integrate the USD1, World Liberty Financial’s cryptocurrency, into local payment infrastructures.
“Links with Iran and significant influence”
Regarding Iran, the ties are deeply rooted. “The land of the pure” is home to the second-largest Shia population in the world, and its embassy in Washington houses the Iranian diplomatic mission. Asim Munir, on his part, maintains longstanding relations with the Revolutionary Guards and Shia dignitaries in his country. He had summoned them after the death of Ali Khamenei to contain violent protests erupting in some cities of Pakistan.
Without an official diplomatic role, the marshal’s influence in the American-Iranian conflict is undeniable. Donald Trump stated that he accepted the ceasefire “based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Marshal Asim Munir of Pakistan.” In Iran, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi publicly thanked “His Excellency Marshal Munir” for his “tireless efforts.”
