Watch| Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir Faces Boos, 'Mass Murderer' Chants During US Visit

General Asim Munir, the Pakistan Army Chief, faced a hostile welcome from protesters during his current visit to the United States.

Demonstrations, reportedly organized by representatives of the Pakistani diaspora, aimed at the General with placards and chants calling him a "mass murderer" and accusing him of human rights abuses.

Popularly shared video on social media depicted Munir being booed and greeted with slogans when he arrived at a hotel in Washington. Protesters chanted slogans like "Shame on You" and "Islamabad ka Qatil" (Murderer of Islamabad), as they waved signs calling him a "Mass Murderer." Chants also included "Asim Munir, you are a coward," reflecting widespread anger amongst the protestors.

The public outcry during his visit has caused a great embarrassment for Pakistan, especially because the visit was viewed as a strategic initiative in the face of India's escalating diplomatic power in the international arena.

Some demonstrators went so far as to accuse the Army Chief of eroding democratic institutions in Pakistan. "When dictators rise, democracy dies," read one of the signs held by protesters, who characterized Munir as an authoritarian figure responsible for stifling democratic freedoms.

The US chapter of Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party also shared videos of the protest online. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), PTI’s overseas unit wrote:
Pakistani-Americans protesting outside the Four Seasons hotel in Washington, DC reminding General Asim Munir about the atrocities he has committed against the people of Pakistan.

Controversy had already greeted Munir's American visit after reports surfaced that he was to join a military parade with former US President Donald Trump. The White House moved quickly to play down these claims. A US official explained, "This is false. No foreign military leaders were invited."

General Munir has been a divisive figure, especially following a recent address during which he seemed to espouse the controversial two-nation theory regarding India and Pakistan. The remarks were subject to intense criticism on social media, intensifying criticism of the army's intervention within Pakistan's internal affairs as well as its border tensions with its neighbors.

As his tour goes on, the criticism of the Pakistani army chief reflects mounting frustration within the international Pakistani diaspora and mounting criticism of Pakistan's foreign and domestic policies.