“No Free Lunch in America – Najam Sethi on COAS Asim Munir’s Meeting with Trump”
Lahore: Senior journalist Najam Sethi has made a significant claim regarding the recent meeting between Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir and former U.S. President Donald Trump. Speaking during his program, Sethi stated, “There is no such thing as a free lunch in America — everything has a cost.”
Sethi pointed out that some individuals in Pakistan are celebrating this high-profile luncheon as a diplomatic success. However, he cautioned that history shows such interactions come with long-term implications. “America has previously supported figures like Ayub Khan, Zia-ul-Haq, and Pervez Musharraf — but each of those alliances had consequences,” he remarked.
Referring to emerging narratives about Pakistan’s future trajectory leading up to 2030, Sethi suggested that such meetings often signal the beginning of broader geopolitical strategies. He warned that those praising this engagement might be overlooking its hidden costs.
Sethi also recalled former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger’s famous quote: “To be an enemy of America can be dangerous, but to be a friend is fatal.” He emphasized that America’s approach is interest-based, not relationship-based. “Ayub Khan was given a warm welcome in Congress in the 1960s, and later wrote a book titled ‘Friends Not Masters.’ He had realized that America seeks control, not friendship,” Sethi added.
Concluding his commentary, Sethi reminded viewers that while such high-level interactions may appear promising on the surface, they often signal deeper strategic calculations that serve U.S. interests above all.
مجھے افسوس ہے پاکستان میں کچھ لوگ عاصم منیر کے ٹرمپ کیساتھ لنچ پر خوشیاں منا رہے ہیں
امریکہ نے ایوب، ضیاء اور مشرف کو سپورٹ کیا تھا اور ہم نے بھاری قیمت ادا کی تھی اس لنچ کی بھی قیمت ہو گی، ابھی سے ہی 2030 کی باتیں ہونا شروع ہو گئی ہیں یہ لنچ بالکل فری نہیں ہے
نجم سیٹھی pic.twitter.com/KNeEJ0pxgN
— Waqar khan (@Waqarkhan123) June 19, 2025
