Washington: Pakistan’s army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and US President Donald Trump discussed trade, economic development, and cryptocurrency during their meeting at the White House on Wednesday, the Pakistan army said. President Trump expressed keen interest in forging a mutually beneficial trade partnership with Pakistan based on long-term strategic convergence and shared interests, the army said in a statement on Thursday.

According to TRTworld.com, Munir and Trump also exchanged views on prevailing tensions between Israel and Iran, the statement added. The meeting took place in the Cabinet Room and was closed to the press. President Trump stated that he invited Munir to thank him for helping stop a war and to discuss a potential trade deal with Pakistan and regional issues, including the Iran situation.

Speaking to reporters ahead of the lunch, Trump reiterated his claim that he helped prevent a conflict between the South Asian rivals. He emphasized that both countries are nuclear powers and credited both General Munir and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi with de-escalating the situation. Trump praised Munir’s influence in Pakistan and Modi’s role in India in preventing what he described as a potential nuclear war.

White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly later noted that part of the reason for the meeting was General Munir’s recent public remarks, in which he suggested that President Trump should be awarded a Nobel Prize for his efforts in preventing the conflict between India and Pakistan last month.