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No proof Donald Trump asked for US bases on Pakistani soil and Asim Munir accepted it

The claim that Trump requested military bases from Asim Munir is not sufficiently verified. It stems from a single news report and speculative X posts, with no confirmation from official US or Pakistani sources.

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The Squirrels Bureau
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No proof Donald Trump asked for US bases on Pakistani soil and Asim Munir accepted it

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A report by a mainstream media outlet that US President Donald Trump requested American military bases on Pakistani soil from Pakistani Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir during their June 2025 meeting must make China panic and India uncomfortable, but the story lacks widespread corroboration from authoritative sources.

According to the CNN-News18 report, during a working lunch on 18 June, Trump sought access to Pakistan’s military bases and seaports in exchange for fifth-generation fighter planes, advanced missiles, financial aid and new security and trade deals. The report suggests this was part of an effort to strengthen US influence in southern and western Asia, with the condition that Pakistan reduce dealings with China and Russia.

X users, excited by the 'news', fight one another

Some X users say this is about reactivating PAF Samungli and using Gwadar for refuelling. However, these posts lack verifiable evidence and appear speculative, often framed in a sensational or geopolitical context (for example, “Dollar Ka Dum” or Sunni-Shia dynamics).

X users @BharatVigil and @BabaBanaras_IND suggest Pakistan agreed to provide bases like PAF Base Samungli in Quetta, PAF Base Shahbaz in Jacobabad and PAF Base Masroor in Karachi for US operations against Iran.

A post by @SouleFacts claims that Asim Munir rejected the American request for forward air bases, stating “ABSOLUTELY NOT,” which contradicts the narrative of Pakistan agreeing to provide bases. This highlights conflicting sentiments on social media, further undermining the reliability of these claims without official confirmation.

A post by @kaxev rightly points out the lack of official confirmation: No official statement from the US government, the White House or Pakistan’s ISI confirms the request for military bases.

The White House and Pakistani military statements focus on the meeting’s broader goals, such as counterterrorism cooperation (particularly against ISIS-K), trade, economic development and de-escalation of India-Pakistan tensions. For example, Pakistan’s military talks of discussions on trade, critical minerals, AI, crypto, energy and IT, with no mention of military bases.

The meeting happened amid regional tensions, including the Israel-Iran conflict and India-Pakistan ceasefire discussions. Trump’s reported interest in bases is consistent with US strategic goals to counter Iran, as suggested by some sources, but Pakistan’s public support for Iran (Munir’s statements affirming solidarity with Tehran, for instance) complicates this narrative.

Trump's reduced credibility

Additionally, India’s clarification that the May ceasefire was achieved through direct military talks, not US mediation, suggests Trump’s claims of influence may be exaggerated, casting doubt on the broader context of the meeting. Pakistan has historically been a US partner, hosting American operations during the Cold War and the so-called War on Terror, but relations soured under the Joe Biden administration. Trump’s engagement with Munir could signal a reset, but Pakistan’s military bases are sensitive due to domestic political opposition (e.g., protests by Imran Khan’s PTI supporters) and geopolitical balancing with China and Russia.

The absence of civilian Pakistani leadership in the meeting further suggests the military’s dominant role, but no concrete evidence confirms that bases were discussed. The geopolitical context — Pakistan’s ties with Iran and China — makes it unlikely for Pakistan to openly agree to US bases without a palpable backlash domestically and regionally.