A U.S. congressional delegation on Sunday called on Chief of Army Staff Gen. Asim Munir as well as Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, praising the armed forces’ critical role in combating terrorism.
Led by Congressman Jack Bergman, the delegation also includes Thomas Souzzi and Jonathan Jackson. In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the meeting with the Army chief focused on matters of mutual interest, with particular emphasis on regional security and defense cooperation.
“Both sides reaffirmed the importance of sustained engagement based on mutual respect, shared values, and converging strategic interests,” read the statement, adding the two sides had signed memoranda of understanding for training collaboration in the field of information technology.
According to the military’s media wing, the visiting U.S. lawmakers had commended the Army for its pivotal role in combating terrorism and acknowledged Pakistan’s enduring contributions to regional peace and stability. “Underscoring their respect for Pakistan’s sovereignty, the U.S. congressional delegation conveyed a strong commitment to advancing broad-based bilateral cooperation, particularly in the domains of security, trade, investment, and economic development,” it added.
The ISPR quoted Gen. Munir as conveying his appreciation for the visit to the delegation and reiterating Pakistan’s desire to further deepen and diversify its longstanding partnership with the U.S. in a mutually beneficial manner.
Meeting with interior minister
Separately, during their meeting with the interior minister, the delegation discussed various bilateral matters, including cooperation in economy, trade, and investment, security, counterterrorism, and border security. Apart from Naqvi, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, Acting U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan Natalie Baker, and Federal Interior Secretary Khurram Agha were also in attendance.
During the meeting, Naqvi emphasized that terrorism is a global challenge and sought the international community’s cooperation in Pakistan’s fight against militancy. “Pakistan stands as a wall between terrorism and the rest of the world,” he said. “Intelligence and technology sharing in the domain of counterterrorism is of utmost importance,” he said, hoping the delegation’s visit would help highlight Pakistan’s vital role in the fight against terrorism.
Welcoming America’s interest in last week’s Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum 2025, he assured the congressmen Islamabad would ensure every possible facility and protection to potential investors. The minister of state, meanwhile, said an upcoming Counter-Terrorism Dialogue in June would play a key role in promoting mutual cooperation in the area of counterterrorism.
The visiting lawmakers acknowledged the need to highlight Pakistan’s role in the war against terrorism, and praised as “talented” and “hardworking” the Pakistani community residing in the United States.