Diplomacy à la Carte: What was on Field Marshal’s plate at the White House lunch?

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump hosted Pakistan’s Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, for a luncheon at the White House on Tuesday, marking a rare and highly symbolic engagement between the United States and Pakistan’s military leadership.

The meeting attendees also included US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Representative for the Middle East Steven Witkoff. Accompanying Field Marshal Munir were Interior Minister of Pakistan Mohsin Naqvi and Director General ISI Asim Malik.

The event, held in the historic State Dining Room, featured a specially curated all-halal menu – a gesture widely seen as a nod to the religious and cultural considerations of the Pakistani delegation.

The luncheon menu blended Southern American flavours with global culinary touches. The first course included a goat cheese gateau paired with tomato jam, buttermilk biscuit crumbles, and young variegated lettuces – a sophisticated start aimed at showcasing American agricultural diversity.

For the main course, guests were served a rack of spring lamb accompanied by burnt cipollini soubise, Carolina gold rice, and a side of jambalaya – a New Orleans classic. The dessert course featured a nectarine tart served with crème fraîche ice cream, concluding the meal on a sweet yet refined note.

The meal adhered strictly to halal dietary laws, reflecting diplomatic sensitivity and careful planning by the US State Department and Trump’s personal team.

Though no press conference followed the luncheon, insiders say the visit included closed-door discussions centred around regional security, counter-terrorism cooperation, and efforts to recalibrate US-Pakistan relations amid shifting geopolitical currents.

Photos of the menu, bearing the presidential seal and Trump’s name, quickly circulated on social media, sparking discussion both in Pakistan and abroad about the significance of the event.

Also read: Trump meets Asim Munir: Is Pakistan regaining strategic relevance?