KARACHI: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir appreciated the economic contributions of overseas Pakistanis during an interaction with the community members from his country in Washington DC, according to a statement from the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), on Tuesday.

Munir is currently visiting the United States to strengthen bilateral military and strategic ties. This marks his second visit to the US since assuming charge as army chief in November 2022. His first visit was in December 2023, during which he met senior American civilian and military officials.

Pakistan and the United States have shared a defense relationship dating back to the Cold War era. Over the decades, Washington has worked closely with Pakistan’s military leadership and civilian governments on issues ranging from regional stability and counterterrorism to cooperation in Afghanistan.

“Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, NI (M), Chief of Army Staff (COAS), is on an official visit to United States,” the ISPR said. “During the visit, the COAS interacted with the Overseas Pakistani community in Washington DC. The COAS received a warm reception and welcome from the overseas Pakistanis, who gathered in large numbers to meet with the Chief of Army Staff.”

“During the interaction,” the statement added, “the COAS expressed his deep appreciation for the vital and most significant role being played by overseas Pakistanis for being ambassadors of Pakistan. He acknowledged their contributions to Pakistan’s economy, and global reputation by contributing actively through remittances, investments and higher achievements in other domains.”

The ISPR said members of the diaspora shared their experiences and suggestions during the engagement.

Munir emphasized the importance of continued cooperation with overseas Pakistanis, calling for collaborative efforts to address common challenges and support Pakistan’s development.

The participants of the gathering applauded the armed forces of Pakistan for the “outstanding performance” during the recent military standoff with India.

The interaction concluded with a “renewed sense of purpose and commitment,” the military said, adding that both sides pledged to work together toward a more secure and resilient Pakistan.

According to media reports over the weekend, supporters of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan held a protest outside the Pakistan Embassy in Washington on Saturday, citing Munir’s presence in the US capital and calling for “restoration of democracy” in their home country.

Khan has been in prison since August 2023 following his arrest on corruption charges. He has consistently denied wrongdoing and claims the legal cases against him are politically motivated to keep him out of Pakistan’s political arena.

His party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has accused the military of orchestrating his government’s ouster through a parliamentary no-confidence vote in April 2022.

PTI also alleged the move was carried out under pressure from the United States, a claim denied by all parties involved.

KARACHI: Pakistan and the United States have agreed to move forward with negotiations aimed at finalizing a trade deal “at the earliest,” as Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick held a virtual meeting to discuss recently imposed American “reciprocal tariffs,” Pakistan’s finance ministry said on Tuesday.

Last month, Islamabad announced it had formally launched talks with the US following the imposition of steep tariffs by President Donald Trump’s administration on several countries, including Pakistan.

The duties, which Washington says are meant to correct trade imbalances and ensure fair treatment of American goods, have been widely criticized as a blow to global economic recovery efforts in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pakistan has been hit with a 29 percent tariff on its exports to the US at a time when the country is trying to drive economic growth through increased exports.

“Further to Pak-US negotiations on US reciprocal tariffs, a virtual meeting took place between Mr. Muhammad Aurangzeb, Pakistan’s Finance Minister, and Howard Lutnick, United States’ Commerce Secretary on 16th June, 2025,” the finance ministry said in its statement.

“Both sides resolved to carry forward their negotiations through a constructive engagement to finalize the trade deal at the earliest,” it added.

The ministry informed the discussion focused on strengthening trade and investment and deepening economic ties between the two countries.

Both sides agreed to hold further technical-level discussions in the coming days, based on a mutually agreed roadmap.

The United States is Pakistan’s largest export market, and analysts warn that the new tariffs could undermine Islamabad’s fragile economic recovery.

According to Pakistan’s central bank, the country exported $5.44 billion worth of goods to the US in 2024. From July 2024 to February 2025, exports stood at $4 billion, up 10 percent compared to the same period last year.

Nearly 90 percent of Pakistan’s exports to the US are textiles, a sector likely to bear the brunt of the tariff impact.

Trade experts have also cautioned that the duties could erode Pakistan’s competitiveness, especially if regional players such as China, Bangladesh and Vietnam shift focus to European markets, intensifying competition in alternative destinations.