‘Betrayal of Hindu diaspora’ – Huge row over Kash Patel and Asim Munir handshake

US President Donald Trump hosted Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir at the White House on Thursday (US time). As per the official photos released since then, it seems like the Republican leader wasn’t the only key American figure to meet the South Asian officials at the Oval Office last week.

Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Deputy White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, US Protocol Chief Monica Crowley, and curiously even FBI Director Kash Patel were spotted exchanging warm greetings with them.

A snap of the FBI boss shaking hands with Asim Munir has since consumed the Internet, with many people criticising the meeting, but even more importantly slamming Patel for the gesture. The Indian-origin FBI director, whose roots trace back to Gujarat, is particularly taking the heat for the development given the nuclear-powered neighbouring countries India and Pakistan’s ever-so-long conflicted relationship.

Internet against Indian-origin Kash Patel’s meeting with Pak’s Army Chief Asim Munir

Internet users specifically invoked the religion card while dissecting the underlying politics of the US-Pak meeting in Washington DC. Many took offence over the fact that Patel is a practicing Hindu, while the Pakistani Army chief has publicly emphasised on the “stark differences between Hindus and Muslims.”

Although Patel hasn’t necessarily been vocal about his religious faith, he was not just born into a Hindu household, but he also notably invoked the chant “Jai Shree Krishna” at his confirmation hearing earlier this year.

Meanwhile, Munir backed the ‘Two-Nation Theory,’ which resulted in Pakistan’s creation in 1947. Merely months ago, he said the Convention for Overseas Pakistanis, “Our forefather believed that we were different from Hindus in every possible aspect of life. Our religion is different. Our customs are different. Our traditions are different. Our thoughts are different. Our ambitions are different.”

He added, “That was the foundation of the Two-Nation Theory. It was laid on the belief that we are two nations, not one.”

Given Munir’s stance on the issue, many have often branded him “Hinduphobic.”

India-Pakistan tensions

On top of that, the Pahalgam terror attack in April further complicated India-Pakistan relations, with the former having doubled down on its stance against terrorism ever since and mounted intense accusations against Pakistan over its reported involvement in the attack. Subsequently in May, India launched its retaliatory Operation Sindoor, targeting several Pakistan-based terror infrastructures.

“On April 22, terror struck Pahalgam. Pakistan-backed attackers stormed a village, asked people their religion, and killed them, resulting in 26 deaths. A clear attempt to incite communal violence, this marked a shift, from cross-border attacks to dividing India from within,” the Indian Government said in an official May statement.

“In response, India launched Operation SINDOOR to destroy the terror bases behind the attack. But Pakistan hit back harder.  Over the next week, it used drones and shelling to target religious sites. The Shambhu Temple in Jammu, the Gurdwara in Poonch, and Christian convents were attacked. These were not random strikes. They were part of a plan to break India’s unity.”

Additionally, the United States current friction with India over its trade with Russia amid the Ukraine crisis adds to the trouble. While India has since been hit with 50% tariffs – the highest any country is facing, the US imposed merely 19% duties on Pakistani imports – the lowest rate in South Asia.

Netizens speak out against Kash Patel-Asim Munir’s handshake

“It’s very odd that Kash Patel came by for a handshake,” wrote Christopher Clary, Associate Professor of Political Science at Albany University, on X. Someone else then commented, “It’s not odd,this whole meeting was the US trying to send a message to the Indians and it’s deliberately done but we honestly couldn’t care less what the US does.”

Another wrote, “It shows the ascendent Pakistani diplomacy. Hard times for india as if it wasnt already obvious !!” A fourth person chimed in, “Kash Patel’s Transition is just Reflection of the U.S Politics and its Foreign Policy in Sub-Continent under the Trump Administration. Which is to Appease Pakistan for Crypto and Rare Earth Minerals.”

Meanwhile, another comment pointed out that Patel probably had no choice but to acquiesce given his role in the Trump administration. “If he wants to keep his job as the head of the fbi he’ll have to do what Trump tells him,” they added.

On the other hand, some netizens called out the religion card play, saying, “Don’t mix his personal belief with his Govt stand and policy.” Yet another commented, “What’s wrong with shaking hands with Asim Munir? He is an American citizen and works for his government. He has to do what is best for his government. Even if Americans don’t get anything in return from Pakistan, they would still shake hands with them during a bilateral summit.”