Pakistan's Asim Munir to meet US President Donald Trump in Washington, third visit in six months, what's on agenda?

Pakistan's army chief marshal Asim Munir is expected to visit Washington and will meet US President Donald Trump. This will be his third visit in six months. US is pushing Islamabad to contribute troops to the Gaza stabilisation force, as reported by Reuters.

Why is Asim Munir visiting Washington?

Donald Trump has announced a 20-point Gaza plan to bring stabilisation in Gaza, after more than two years of Israel-Gaza war. Trump is pushing Muslim nations, like Pakistan to oversee a transition period for reconstruction and economic recovery in the war-torn Palestinian territory. However, several nations are against the demilitarisation of Gaza as it can encourage Islamist militant group Hamas, fueling to the ongoing tensions between Isreal and Palestine.

On the other side, it will be a tough challenge fo Asim Munir as he can face domestic backlash. As per Reuters,  the big concern at home is that the involvement of Pakistan troops in Gaza under a US-backed plan could re-ignite protests from Pakistan's Islamist parties that are deeply opposed to the US and Israel. The Islamists have street power to mobilise thousands.

Asim Munir and Trump's close relations

Asim Munir has built a close relationship with US President Donald Trump. Earlier this year, he has visited Washington. In June, he was also rewarded with a White House lunch - the first time a U.S. president hosted Pakistan's army chief alone. Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif was not invited in the meeting. 

Reuters reported that, "Not contributing (to the Gaza stabilisation force) could annoy Trump, which is no small matter for a Pakistani state that appears quite keen to remain in his good graces - in great part to secure U.S. investment and security aid," said Michael Kugelman, Senior Fellow, South Asia at Washington-based Atlantic Council.

(With Reuters inputs)