‘Pakistanio ke qatil’: Pak Army Chief’s US visit marred by PTI-led protests

Washington: Pakistani Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir’s official visit to the United States, aimed at bolstering military and strategic ties with Washington, has been overshadowed by widespread protests.

Members of the Pakistani diaspora and supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party have led demonstrations, transforming Munir’s stay at the luxury Four Seasons Hotel in Washington into a focal point of dissent.

Protesters chanted slogans accusing Munir of human rights violations, branding him as "Pakistanio ke qatil" and "Islamabad ke qatil" – meaning "killer of Pakistanis" and "killer of Islamabad", respectively.

As official convoys reached the hotel, protesters erupted in loud chants. A widely shared social media video captured one demonstrator shouting, "Geedad, geedad, geedad" ("jackal, jackal, jackal"), a term used to imply cowardice and deceit.

The clip quickly went viral, with analysts describing it as a public embarrassment for Pakistan’s military establishment.

Pakistani-Americans protesting outside the Four Seasons hotel stated that their demonstration aimed to remind General Asim Munir of the alleged crimes committed against the people of Pakistan.

In a video shared by PTI USA, Imran Khan's sister, Noreen Khan Niazi, said, "The protest in America was carried out by patriotic Pakistanis – the same people who keep Pakistan's economy alive through remittances. No one paid them. No one forced them. They stood up by their own free will – for justice, for Imran Khan, and for Pakistan."

PTI USA further stated in an X post, "Overseas Pakistanis erupt in chants against Asim Munir during his US visit." Massive protest held – digital vans, posters, and powerful slogans shook the streets."

Nazia Imtiaz Hussain, Executive Director of The Alliance Organisation, voiced her dissent online, condemning Pakistan’s leadership and those supporting its policies.

Despite the protests, Field Marshal Asim Munir is scheduled to meet US President Donald Trump today at 1:00 p.m. (local time) in the White House's Cabinet Room for a working lunch, according to the President’s official schedule.

The meeting comes after the White House clarified that Munir was not invited to the US Army’s 250th-anniversary celebrations on June 14, contradicting earlier claims from Pakistani sources.

According to Dawn, Munir's five-day official visit is "primarily bilateral in nature" and includes meetings with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. Talks are expected to centre on regional security, military cooperation, and counterterrorism.

His visit coincides with escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, now in their sixth consecutive day. While President Trump has recently demanded Iran’s “unconditional surrender”, Munir has previously expressed solidarity with Tehran, a stance that could complicate diplomatic engagement between Washington and Islamabad.

This marks Munir’s first official US visit since the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 26 Indian tourists. The Resistance Front, a faction linked to Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility for the massacre.

Just days before the attack, Munir reportedly reiterated Pakistan’s long-standing strategy to "bleed India by a thousand cuts," a statement widely criticised in Indian diplomatic circles, particularly given the timing of the attack.

(inputs from IANS)