Washington: The White House has firmly denied reports claiming that Pakistan’s Army Chief, General Asim Munir, was invited to the grand military parade in Washington on Saturday, June 14. “This is false. No foreign military leaders were invited,” a White House official told reporters, dismissing what had spiralled into a heated diplomatic talking point across South Asia.
The military parade, timed to coincide with the 249th anniversary of the US Army’s founding, is being touted as one of the largest defence spectacles on American soil in decades. With thousands of troops, tanks, helicopters, and flyovers planned, it also marks the 79th birthday of former President Donald Trump, who is expected to take the salute.
Indian Politicians React to Rumours of Munir's Invitation
The initial claim that General Munir had been invited sparked outrage in India’s political circles, with Congress leader Jairam Ramesh calling it a "huge setback for Indian diplomacy."
The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena-UBT echoed the criticism in its editorial in Saamana, alleging it was a “deliberate attempt to weaken India’s fight” on the international stage.
The party went further, accusing the BJP of remaining “blind supporters of Trump” and failing to register strong disapproval over the supposed invite. The clarification from the White House, however, diffused the political noise generated by what turned out to be misinformation.
Blow to Pakistan's PR Efforts as Claim Backfires
The fabricated narrative had briefly been projected in Pakistani media as a diplomatic win, particularly after Pakistan’s recent setbacks in Washington. A visit by a Pakistani delegation led by former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari failed to yield meetings with senior US officials above the rank of Undersecretary.
The exposure of the falsehood surrounding Munir’s alleged invitation now risks embarrassing Islamabad further. The attempt to position the rumour as one-upmanship over India has instead cast a spotlight on Pakistan’s dwindling diplomatic leverage.
This weekend’s parade will be the first such display in Washington since 1991’s National Victory Celebration after Operation Desert Storm.
