Visit follows US parade snub; Munir to meet Rubio and Hegseth as PTI supporters protest in Washington
June 18, 2025 – In a high-profile diplomatic engagement, U.S. President Donald Trump will meet Pakistan Army Chief General Syed Asim Munir on Wednesday at the White House, days after Washington denied him an invite to the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary parade. The lunch meeting is scheduled for 1:00 PM (Washington time) in the Cabinet Room, as per the president’s official agenda.
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General Munir is also set to hold meetings with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, according to Pakistan’s leading newspaper Dawn. His visit, spanning five days, is described as “primarily bilateral” and focused on strengthening strategic and military ties between the two nations.
Critical Timing Amid Global Crises
The meeting comes at a particularly sensitive moment, as hostilities between Israel and Iran intensify in West Asia. Munir’s U.S. trip also follows recent India-Pakistan tensions, triggered by the deadly Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 that killed 26 Indian civilians. This marks Munir’s first official U.S. visit since the clashes, which eventually ceased following Islamabad’s ceasefire proposal.
President Trump previously claimed that U.S. trade leverage was instrumental in facilitating the truce—an assertion publicly denied by India.
Protests Erupt Outside Munir’s Hotel in Washington
Munir’s visit has stirred backlash from the Pakistani diaspora, particularly supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. Demonstrators rallied outside the Four Seasons Hotel and the Pakistani embassy in Washington, chanting slogans like:
- “Asim Munir, you are a coward”
- “Shame on you, dictator”
- “Pakistaniyon Ke Kaati” (Killer of Pakistanis)
The protests, aimed at spotlighting alleged democratic backsliding and military overreach in Pakistan, accuse Munir of undermining civilian governance and cracking down on dissent.
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As regional tensions and internal unrest converge, Munir’s engagements in Washington could shape the future trajectory of U.S.-Pakistan military cooperation—against a backdrop of public anger and global volatility.
Tags: Asim Munir US visit, Trump-Munir meeting, Pakistan Army, Marco Rubio, Pete Hegseth, PTI protests, Imran Khan supporters, US-Pakistan ties, Israel-Iran conflict, India-Pakistan ceasefire
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