Was Asim Munir Invited to the US Military Parade? White House Clears the Air Amid Backlash

Was Asim Munir Invited to the US Military Parade?: The United States had invited Pakistan army chief General Asim Munir as a guest during the 250th anniversary celebrations of the US Armed Forces, according to several media reports.

These reports invited political backlash in India with the Congress party calling it a ‘diplomatic setback' for India, more so in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor – India's precision strikes on terror camps in Pakistan last month. The strikes were carried out after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, mostly tourists, in the popular hill station of Jammu and Kashmir.

"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.

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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.

“Every other country celebrates its victories. It’s about time America did too,” Trump declared in brief remarks at the parade's end.

During the event, the president praised the strength of the military's fighting forces and said US soldiers “fight, fight, fight and they win, win, win” — putting a new twist on a line that Trump regularly delivered during his 2024 campaign rallies after he survived an assassination attempt.

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Indian opposition leaders quickly labelled the reported invitation as a diplomatic embarrassment. Derek Grossman, a senior defence analyst at the RAND Corporation, called it a “diplomatic setback,” warning that such a move could inadvertently legitimise Pakistan’s military leadership, often accused of undermining democracy.

Grossman stated on X, “For India, the Trump admin’s invitation to Pakistani Field Marshal Asim Munir is tantamount to inviting an avowed anti-India terrorist.”

"Driven by his relentless animosity towards Prime Minister Modi, Jairam Ramesh irresponsibly amplified false claims alleging that Pakistan's Army Chief, General Asim Munir, was invited to the US parade," BJP IT department head Amit Malviya said on X, flagging a media report about the US invitation to Munir as fake news.

In his eagerness to attack the prime minister, Ramesh not only spread misinformation but also cast aspersions on India's foreign policy, effectively echoing narratives that serve Pakistan's interests, Malviya said in a post on X.

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