Pakistan's army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, has arrived in Tehran to arrange a second round of negotiations between the United States and Iran, according to Pakistani officials. The visit follows rare face-to-face talks held in Islamabad last week, which did not produce a formal agreement but kept communication channels open.
While public attention has focused on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Munir has been tasked with maintaining behind-the-scenes contacts with American and Iranian political and military leaders. His less visible involvement has been instrumental in de-escalating the regional crisis, officials said.
Munir, who was promoted to field marshal last year, is only the second military officer in Pakistan's history to hold the title. He also serves as both chief of army staff and defence forces, making him the most powerful Pakistani leader since Pervez Musharraf, according to Charles Lyons-Jones of the Lowy Institute.
Born in 1968 to a lower-middle-class family, Munir joined the military in 1986 and served in various roles, including as a colonel in Saudi Arabia. He is the only army chief to have headed both Military Intelligence and the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
US President Donald Trump has called Munir “my favourite field marshal,” highlighting his importance. Munir played a key role in last year's India-Pakistan conflict and supported a calibrated response after Iranian strikes inside Pakistan earlier this year.
