Pakistan’s Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir faced an embarrassing reception upon his arrival in Washington DC, as protesters outside his hotel shouted “shame on you, mass murderer” and “shame on you, dictator”. Videos widely circulated on social media showed demonstrators arguing with US authorities while condemning Munir’s visit.

Munir arrived in the US capital on Sunday for a five-day visit aimed at strengthening military and strategic ties between Islamabad and Washington. However, the trip has been overshadowed by both domestic criticism and diplomatic snubs. The videos shows a protestor video recording the arrival of Munir’s convoy to a hotel and shouting “shame on you” pointing at the convoy.

White House denies inviting Munir to military parade

Adding to the controversy, the White House denied reports that Munir was invited to the military parade held in Washington on Saturday. “This is false. No foreign military leaders were invited,” a White House official clarified, contradicting earlier claims from Pakistani media.

ALSO READ

Munir was recently elevated to the rank of Field Marshal, the highest military designation in Pakistan, by the Shehbaz Sharif government. The promotion was justified on grounds of his “exemplary leadership” during the latest military flare-up with India, following India’s ‘Operation Sindoor’ in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 tourists. The attack was attributed to Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba and its offshoot, TRF.

ALSO READ

In the backdrop of Israel-Iran war

Munir’s US visit comes amid heightened regional instability, particularly following Israel’s strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. The escalation has diverted global attention, complicating Islamabad’s efforts to seek diplomatic support from Washington.

Pakistan has expressed strong backing for Tehran in the wake of the Israeli attacks, urging Muslim nations to unite against Israel. This stance may further complicate Munir’s diplomatic outreach in Washington, where the Trump administration is closely aligned with Israel in the ongoing Middle East crisis.