The White House has categorically denied reports that any foreign military leader, including Pakistan’s Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, has been invited to the upcoming U.S. Army parade in Washington, marking the 250th anniversary of the American armed forces.
“This is false. No foreign military leaders were invited,” a White House official said, refuting multiple media reports from South Asia.
The reports claimed that Mr. Munir would be a guest of honour at the June 14 celebration, which is also U.S. President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday.
Derek Grossman, a senior defence analyst at RAND Corporation, criticised the rumoured invitation, calling it a “diplomatic setback” for India.
“For India, the Trump admin’s invitation to Pakistani Field Marshal Asim Munir is tantamount to inviting an avowed anti-India terrorist,” he said in post on X.
Congress responds
India’s Opposition Congress Party described it as a diplomatic setback for the Modi Government.
“Failed Marshal Asim Munir, who gave such inflammatory, incendiary and provocative statements, talked about the two-nation theory, Hindus and Muslims, and there is a direct relation between his statement and what happened in Pahalgam on April 22. Same Asim Munir gets a special invitation to go to America on U.S. Army Day on June 14, which is incomprehensible,” the Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said.
In anticipation of Mr. Munir’s visit, the U.S. chapter of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had announced a protest rally in front of the Pakistani Embassy in Washington on Saturday. “PTI USA, alongside 12+ Pakistani diaspora organisations, is holding a massive protest in Washington DC to oppose #UndeclaredMartialLawin Pakistan and to stand against tyranny and raise our voice for a free and fair Pakistan,” it said.
(5Wh.com)
Published – June 14, 2025 05:30 am IST