Army chief criticized for presenting minerals to Trump
Pakistani Army chief General Asim Munir has come under intense scrutiny at home after presenting rare earth minerals to US President Donald Trump, with critics questioning his authority and mocking the optics of the gesture. The backlash reflects growing unease over the military’s increasing involvement in diplomatic matters, traditionally handled by civilian leadership.
Leading the criticism, senator Aimal Wali Khan likened Munir’s actions to a shopkeeper showing off merchandise to a customer, calling it a “joke” and a “mockery of the Constitution.”
The Trump-Munir photo-op
Earlier this week, the White House released a photograph showing Trump examining a wooden box containing rare earth minerals presented by Munir, while Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif looked on from the sidelines.
The presentation coincided with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Pakistan’s military engineering and construction firm, Frontier Works Organisation, and US Strategic Metals to explore strategic minerals in Pakistan for defence and technological use.
The photo-op followed a closed-door meeting between Pakistani leaders and Trump. Notably, it marked Munir’s third visit to the US in five months, reflecting Pakistan’s growing engagement with the Trump administration.
Political backlash in Pakistan
Senator Khan sharply criticised the optics of the Army chief carrying a briefcase of minerals. “Which Chief of the Army Staff would go around carrying a briefcase with rare earth minerals? It looked like a big, branded store – a manager watching on happily as a shopkeeper shows a customer a big, glittery thing,” Khan said in Parliament, in remarks that quickly went viral online.
He further questioned Munir’s authority in such diplomatic initiatives, calling it a “contempt of Parliament” and an undermining of democracy. “In what capacity? Under which law? This is dictatorship. I am sorry to say this is not democracy. This undermines the elected government and resembles authoritarian practices,” he added.
Khan also demanded a joint session of Parliament to provide clarity on related matters, including Pakistan-Saudi Arabia defence deals, the country’s support for Trump’s 20-point Gaza peace proposal, and details of Munir’s meeting with the US President.
Conclusion
The incident has reignited debate over the military’s role in Pakistan’s foreign policy, raising questions about the balance of power between civilian authorities and the armed forces. The unusual presentation of rare earth minerals to a foreign leader highlights the sensitivity of military involvement in diplomacy and its domestic political ramifications.