US denies inviting Pakistan's Army Chief Asim Munir to 250th Army anniversary parade
"This is false. No foreign military leaders were invited," a White House official told South Asian media outlets, aiming to put an end to days of swirling speculation.
The parade, set for June 14 in Washington, D.C., also coincides with former US President Donald Trump's 79th birthday. It will include tanks, musical performances, air shows, and a fireworks display, running from 11 AM to 6 PM and wrapping up with a night-time concert.
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Backlash in India over reports
Before the denial, Indian political circles had reacted sharply to the rumours. Opposition figures saw the alleged invitation as a diplomatic snub to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government.
RAND Corporation's senior defence analyst Derek Grossman called it a 'diplomatic setback' for India. He posted on X: 'For India, the Trump admin's invitation to Pakistani Field Marshal Asim Munir is tantamount to inviting an avowed anti-India terrorist.'
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Munir, a controversial figure in Indian discourse, had previously described Kashmir as Pakistan's 'jugular vein' and invoked the two-nation theory, stating, "Our religions are different, our customs are different, our traditions are different, our thoughts are different, our ambitions are different... We are two nations, we are not one nation."
PTI plans protest in Washington
Even before the White House statement, Pakistan's political opposition began mobilising in the US.
The
Tehreek-e-Insaf
(PTI) party's US chapter announced a protest in front of the Pakistani Embassy in Washington, D.C. The rally, supported by over a dozen diaspora groups, is being held against what they called 'undeclared martial law' in Pakistan. The protest also demands free and fair elections, reflecting anger towards Munir's role in domestic repression.
Kurilla praises Pakistan as 'phenomenal partner'
At a Congressional hearing, US Central Command (CENTCOM) chief General Michael Kurilla praised Pakistan's role in counterterrorism efforts. He stated:
'Through a phenomenal partnership with Pakistan, they have gone after ISIS-Khorasan, killing dozens of them. Through a relationship we have with them, providing intelligence, they have captured at least five ISIS-Khorasan high-value individuals.'
Kurilla gave specific credit to Munir for the arrest of Mohammad Sharifullah alias Jafar, a suspect in the 2021 Kabul airport bombing that killed 13 American soldiers and over 160 civilians.
Kurilla said, 'The first person Munir called was me and said, 'I've caught him, I'm willing to extradite him back to the US. Please tell the secretary of defence and the president.''
Balanced ties with both India and Pakistan
Despite warm words for Islamabad, Kurilla made clear that the US values its relationship with India as well.
"We need to have a relationship with Pakistan and with India. I do not believe it is a binary switch that we can't have one with Pakistan if we have a relationship with India. We should look at the merits of the relationship for the positives that it has," Kurilla told lawmakers.
This remark reflects Washington's careful approach in South Asia, where tensions between India and Pakistan often challenge American diplomacy.
Diplomatic signals and strategic optics
Foreign policy expert Michael Kugelman weighed in on the speculation around Munir's travel plans. He suggested that if the Pakistani Army Chief does visit, it may involve meetings at CENTCOM.
'Much is unclear about Gen. Munir's reported upcoming trip to the US. But if he comes, a CENTCOM visit is a possibility. He and Gen Kurilla have met 3 times in less than 2 years. Kurilla praised him yesterday in Hill testimony. US-Pak officer-to-officer ties are generally strong,' said Kugelman.
Sources claimed Munir was set to meet senior Pentagon and State Department officials during his trip. However, with the White House ruling out his attendance at the parade, the visit—if it happens—will now likely unfold in a lower profile format.
Amid the furore, US officials also reiterated their strategic partnership with India.
State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce confirmed that Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau recently met with a visiting
Indian parliamentary delegation
led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor. According to Bruce, the two sides discussed counterterrorism cooperation and reaffirmed shared democratic values.
While the storm over Munir's supposed invitation seems to have calmed, it has revealed the tightrope the United States continues to walk in balancing its vital security interests in a volatile region.
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