In a rare and candid admission, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has described the country’s governance structure as a “hybrid model” — a system where civilian and military leadership share power.

He says the model is delivering “excellent results” and could be a long-term fixture until Pakistan was “out of the woods as far as economic and governance problems are concerned".

Speaking to Arab News, Asif acknowledged that this model had proven to be effective in navigating Pakistan through difficult times.

“This is a hybrid model. It’s not an ideal democratic government … So, this arrangement, the hybrid arrangement, I think [it] is doing wonders,” said the minister. “If this sort of [hybrid] model was adopted way back in the 90s, things would have been much, much better.... because the confrontation between [military] establishment and the political government, it actually retarded the progress of our democracy.”

‘Shehbaz Sharif runs affairs with independence’

Asif emphasized that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is independently making decisions while remaining in constant consultation with the military establishment. He claimed that power has been mutually divided, not imposed, and is functioning smoothly.

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“We have common platforms, like SIFC and other platforms, where military leadership and civilian leadership, they sit together and decide about the business,” Asif said, calling it a “de facto arrangement, and it’s working very well".

Army’s rising image post-India conflict

The defense minister also referred to the recent escalation with India, saying the military’s role in the conflict had boosted its national image.

“The military’s prestige has skyrocketed after the conflict with India,” Asif remarked, adding, “It’s a blessing in disguise, but it doesn’t worry me. It will not lead to unchecked military control.”

Rare White House welcome for army chief raises eyebrows

The timing of Asif’s remarks coincides with Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir’s high-profile solo visit to the United States, including an unprecedented meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House — a rare occurrence for a Pakistani military leader not accompanied by civilian leadership.

Munir was joined by Lt Gen Asim Malik, who now serves both as national security adviser and director general of the ISI, a unique dual role that analysts see as a further blurring of civil-military lines in policymaking.

The warm reception in Washington, including meetings at the Pentagon, State Department, and US Central Command, signals what many analysts call a recalibration of US-Pakistan ties — with the military playing a front-seat role.

On June 18, US President Donald Trump said that Pakistan “knows Iran better than we do,” as he confirmed discussing Iran-Israel tensions during his meeting with Army Chief Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir at the White House.

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Speaking to reporters following the high-level interaction, Trump emphasised Pakistan’s strategic importance in the region, particularly with regard to Tehran. “We spoke about the Iran-Israel issue. Pakistan understands Iran better than us — they’re a key player in regional peace,” he stated.

The rare one-on-one meeting, held in the Cabinet Room, was followed by a luncheon hosted by Trump in the army chief’s honour. A White House spokesperson confirmed that the luncheon was arranged to appreciate Pakistan’s role in regional stability and to acknowledge General Munir’s efforts in de-escalating tensions between nuclear-armed neighbours, Pakistan and India.

“It’s an honour to meet Field Marshal Asim Munir. I thanked him for not letting things spiral into war,” Trump said, referring to recent cross-border tensions that were defused diplomatically. The two also discussed potential areas of economic cooperation, with Trump confirming that a trade agreement with Pakistan and India is currently under negotiation.

“We’re in early talks on trade — Pakistan’s concerns are being heard,” he said.

According to diplomatic sources, General Munir is also scheduled to meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defence Secretary Pat Hegseth in the coming days. These engagements are being viewed in Islamabad as a significant diplomatic success, especially as they signal a revival in US-Pakistan strategic dialogue after a period of relative quiet.

Asked about possible diplomatic outcomes of the meeting, Trump said, “General Asim has played a strong role in lowering Pak-India tensions. We appreciate his leadership.”

Earlier, In a brief interaction with reporters, President Trump praised the Pakistani Army Chief, describing him as “an influential figure who played a critical role in de-escalating tensions between Pakistan and India.” The former US president also reiterated his admiration for Pakistan, calling it “an important nuclear country” and lauding the “good people of Pakistan.”

“This man [Field Marshal Munir] has been extremely effective in preventing war from Pakistan’s side,” Mr Trump said.