Washington, D.C., June 17, 2025 – Pakistan’s Army Chief, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, faced intense public backlash from members of the Pakistani diaspora during his visit to the United States for the 250th anniversary celebrations of the U.S. Army. Protesters, largely supporters of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party led by jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan, gathered outside the Pakistani Embassy in Washington, D.C., chanting “Shame on you, Asim Munir!” and branding him a “mass murderer” and “Islamabad ka Qaatil” (Killer of Islamabad). The demonstrations, which included digital vans and posters, were part of a broader wave of diaspora-led protests reflecting deep discontent with Munir’s leadership and Pakistan’s military establishment.
The protests coincided with Munir’s high-profile visit to attend a U.S. military parade and hold meetings with State Department and Pentagon officials, following praise from U.S. Central Command head Gen. Michael Kurilla, who called Pakistan a “phenomenal partner” in counterterrorism efforts. However, the diaspora’s anger stemmed from Munir’s controversial role in Pakistan’s domestic politics, particularly his alleged suppression of PTI and the crackdown on protests following Khan’s arrest in May 2023. Demonstrators accused Munir of orchestrating the “Islamabad Massacre” in November 2024, where security forces allegedly used live rounds against PTI supporters, prompting a case against him with London’s Metropolitan Police for torture and crimes against humanity.
Viral footage shared on X captured the intensity of the protests, with slogans like “Failed Marshal” and “Liar” echoing sentiments from a recent Times Square billboard campaign that labeled Munir a “Fraud Marshal” alongside former President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The billboard, widely shared by Indian journalist Aditya Raj Kaul, accused Munir of military failures during India’s Operation Sindoor in May 2025, which targeted terror camps in Pakistan after the Pahalgam attack that killed 26 civilians.
PTI’s Secretary for Overseas Affairs, Sajjad Burki, rallied Pakistani-Americans to protest, stating on X, “Let the White House know that any deal with this government is not acceptable to the people of Pakistan.” The diaspora’s grievances also highlighted Munir’s inflammatory rhetoric, particularly his April 2025 speech invoking the “two-nation theory” and calling Kashmir Pakistan’s “jugular vein,” which Indian officials linked to the Pahalgam attack.
The protests underscore a growing rift between Pakistan’s military leadership and its diaspora, particularly in the U.S. and UK, where similar demonstrations have occurred. In February 2025, British Pakistanis protested Munir’s visit to London, and a legal case was filed against him for alleged human rights violations. Analysts like Michael Kugelman noted that Munir’s U.S. visit, while aimed at strengthening counterterrorism ties, has instead amplified diaspora dissent, reflecting Pakistan’s internal political crisis and the military’s faltering public image.
As Munir’s visit continues, the Pakistani Embassy has not commented on the protests, but the diaspora’s vocal opposition signals a deepening legitimacy crisis for Pakistan’s military leadership on the global stage.
