• US diplomat underscores Islamabad’s role in ‘multilateral diplomacy’, ‘stability’ in South Asia
• CDF Munir meets Rubio, top defence leaders on sidelines

WASHINGTON: After Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir discussed “global and regional security dynamics” with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a senior US diplomat has highlighted Pakistan’s key role in Washington’s global strategy.

US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz highlighted Pakistan’s role in Washington’s global and regional diplomacy.

“We could walk around the world — Kashmir and India and Pakistan — where we faced a very serious nuclear escalation,” he said during the Munich Security Conference, underlining enduring US concerns about strategic stability in South Asia.

Ambassador Waltz also linked Pakistan to multilateral diplomacy. “The United Nations Security Council created the ‘Board of Peace’ — unanimously — with countries such as Pakistan, our friends in the UK, France and others,” he said.

He further highlighted Islamabad’s role in Washington’s engagement with Muslim-majority nations. “…having our goal of a network of friends — Muslim-majority nations such as Turkiye, Pakistan and Indonesia involved,” he said.

In another reference to regional coordination, he added: “…the President [Donald Trump] convened the countries of the region and the Muslim-majority nations, namely Pakistan, Turkiye and Indonesia.”

Earlier, during their meeting, Field Marshal Munir and Secretary Rubio focused on “matters of mutual interest, including global and regional security dynamics and counterterrorism cooperation”, said a statement issued by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, where Field Marshal Munir also engaged with European and international military leaders to discuss pressing security challenges.

In his talks with German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, the Chancellor’s foreign and security policy adviser Gunter Sautter, and Chief of Defence Carsten Breuer, Field Marshal Munir discussed contemporary security threats, bilateral defence cooperation, and the need to promote global peace and security through multilateral dialogue.

The CDF also held talks with Renato Rodrigues de Aguiar Freire, chief of the joint staff of the Brazilian Armed Forces, and Rodolph Haykal, commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces, focusing on measures to enhance bilateral defence collaboration and address regional security challenges.

According to the ISPR, the visit and accompanying engagements were aimed at strengthening Pakistan’s defence ties and expanding cooperation with partner countries on key security issues.

Published in Dawn, February 16th, 2026