‘Red flag’: US intel flags Pakistan army chief Asim Munir as risk for Trump admin, says report
United States intelligence has flagged Pakistan’s army chief Asim Munir as a potential liability for Donald Trump’s administration as Islamabad plays the role of mediator between Iran and the United States in peace talks amid rising Middle East tensions.According to a Fox News report, Munir was labelled a “red flag” for the Trump administration due to his longstanding links to Iran’s top military brass.Retired Pakistani General Ahmed Saeed told Fox News Digital that Munir maintained personal relationships with high-ranking Iranian figures, including slain Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani and IRGC commander Hossein Salami.While President Trump has publicly praised Munir, calling him his “favourite field marshal,” intelligence officials warn his dual role could compromise US interests.Pakistan’s history as a ‘perfidious ally‘The report also warned that Pakistan, described as a “perfidious ally” (particularly in Afghanistan), makes its close coordination with Iran a security risk.Analysts point to Pakistan’s track record in Afghanistan, where Islamabad backed the Taliban while collecting US aid, as a reason for caution.Bill Roggio of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies told Fox News Digital that Donald Trump should be wary of Pakistan, calling it a historically unreliable ally in Afghanistan. He flagged Asim Munir’s alleged links with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a serious concern for Washington.FDD experts also suggested that Munir could be leveraging his rapport with Trump to quietly advance Iranian interests while also positioning Pakistan as a necessary—yet unpredictable—intermediary.Pakistani commentator Raza Rumi said Munir’s rise signals the military’s growing dominance over civilian leadership in Pakistan. Critics point out that since he took over as army chief in late 2022, Pakistan has seen a sharper crackdown on political opposition, including the marginalisation of former prime minister Imran Khan.Fox News also cited Munir’s remarks at the Margalla Dialogue in Islamabad in November 2024, where he warned that unchecked freedom of expression is eroding moral values globally—comments seen as reflecting his inclination toward centralised control and the army’s General Headquarters rather than elected leaders.The report also noted how critics say that reflects a broader reality of Pakistan’s foreign policy being increasingly run by the army rather than the elected government. Despite these warnings, President Trump appears to rely heavily on Munir.Their relationship solidified during the May 2025 India-Pakistan crisis, where Munir was credited with helping de-escalate tensions. Munir is currently facilitating back-channel communications between the Trump administration (specifically involving Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff) and Tehran.Trump has publicly credited Munir with doing a “great job” in arranging peace talks, even as Vice President JD Vance recently walked out of negotiations in Pakistan, citing Iran’s refusal to make firm nuclear commitments.
