Trump hails Field Marshal Asim Munir as 'highly respected general'

US President Donald Trump has once again praised Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, calling him a “highly respected” general.

Speaking at an event in Florida on Monday alongside Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth and Secretary of the Navy John Phelan, Trump repeated his claim that he helped prevent a major conflict between Pakistan and India that could have escalated into a nuclear war.

“We stopped a potential nuclear war between Pakistan and India,” Trump said.

He further stated that Pakistan’s top leadership had acknowledged his role in averting the conflict. Referring to Field Marshal Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Trump said they credited him with saving millions of lives.

““The head of Pakistan and a highly respected general — he is a field marshal — and also the prime minister of Pakistan said that resident Trump saved 10 million lives, maybe more."

Trump also referred to aerial engagements during the hostilities.

“You know, eight planes were shot down [during the Pakistan-India conflict]. That war was going to rage,” he said.

The US president went on to claim that he has played a role in stopping eight wars so far.

These comments were made during a press conference where Trump unveiled plans for a new “Trump class” of battleships, signaling the beginning of an expanded naval buildup.

Trump has on several occasions claimed credit for helping reduce tensions between Pakistan and India, two nuclear-armed neighbours that have fought three wars since gaining independence and continue to face each other over the dispute of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

In May, both countries were involved in their most serious military confrontation in decades following a deadly attack on tourists in the Pahalgam area of IIOJK.