Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir has confirmed his attendance at the US military parade in Washington DC on June 14, sources reveal. The visit coincides with the 250th anniversary celebrations of the US Army and President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday. During his trip, Munir is expected to meet with senior officials from the US State Department and the Pentagon, marking a high-level military engagement between the two countries, although no official confirmation has come from either side.
This visit follows recent praise from US Central Command chief Gen Michael Kurilla, who described Pakistan as “a phenomenal partner in the counterterrorism world” and highlighted Islamabad’s contributions to operations against ISIS-Khorasan during a congressional hearing. South Asia analyst Michael Kugelman noted the strong officer-to-officer ties between Munir and Kurilla, hinting that a stopover at CENTCOM might be on the agenda.
However, the invitation and visit have triggered sharp criticism in India. Congress communications head Jairam Ramesh condemned the visit as a “huge diplomatic setback,” referencing Munir’s alleged provocative statements prior to the Pahalgam terror attack. India has intensified diplomatic efforts worldwide to isolate Pakistan following that incident.
Munir’s visit is also stirring protests among the Pakistani diaspora in the US. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), led by former Prime Minister Imran Khan, has called for demonstrations in Washington, urging Pakistani-Americans to protest outside the Pakistan Embassy on June 14. PTI Overseas Secretary Sajjad Burki emphasized that any US deal with the current government is unacceptable to many Pakistanis.
The visit comes at a sensitive time amidst ongoing regional tensions, drawing global attention to US-Pakistan military relations.