US Vice President JD Vance on Sunday drew attention online after jokingly referring to his “two favourite” Indian and Pakistani people while speaking on the sidelines of US-Iran talks in Switzerland. He said the Indian in his life was his wife, Usha Vance, and the Pakistani was Field Marshal Asim Munir.
Speaking at the Swiss resort of Burgenstock after discussions with Iranian officials on a potential peace arrangement, Vance recalled a recent meeting in Islamabad where he was received by Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir. He said he often joked that two important people in his life represented India and Pakistan, referring to his wife and Munir.
He also spoke positively about Munir, saying he had been in frequent contact with the Pakistani Army Chief over the past few months and suggesting that Pakistan’s leadership had played an important role in facilitating diplomatic engagement during the talks. Vance described Munir as a significant figure in the process, crediting him, along with Pakistan’s civilian leadership, for helping create conditions for dialogue.
The remarks quickly circulated online, partly because of Vance’s repeated public references to his wife, Usha Vance, whose family originates from Andhra Pradesh, and his earlier comments praising both Pakistani and US diplomatic efforts in relation to the talks.
Vance has previously spoken about the role of Pakistan’s leadership in US-Iran discussions, calling Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir “incredible hosts” and crediting them with helping facilitate engagement between Washington and Tehran. He has also said that any difficulties in earlier rounds of negotiations were not due to Pakistan’s efforts.
Separately, Vance has often discussed his personal life and interfaith marriage. He met Usha Vance at Yale Law School in 2010, and the couple married in 2014 in a ceremony that included Hindu traditions. They have three children, with a fourth expected.
His past remarks about his wife’s religion have previously sparked debate, including comments expressing hope that she might one day convert to Christianity, which he later clarified were not intended as pressure. Usha Vance has stated that she does not intend to convert and that her religious identity has remained unchanged.
