Asim Munir features on Times Square billboard. Pakistanis ask, ‘Who paid for it?'
While the nationalists are cheering the giant digital billboards at New York's Times Square, emblazoned with messages welcoming Munir on behalf of the Pakistani-American community, others are asking uncomfortable questions: who's paying for the billboard, and is it being funded using taxpayers' money?
New Delhi: Pakistan Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir's picture splashed at Times Square on Sunday. Now some Pakistanis are saying it's a paid act. Munir is on a five-day visit to the US.
According to Geo News, Field Marshal Asim Munir has been welcomed in New York with a week-long video campaign on Times Square's iconic billboard. The display features images of Munir, Pakistan's flag, and highlights of his meetings with US senators and Pakistani children. The report also states that the campaign was launched by local authorities to welcome Pakistan's military chief, who has received widespread acclaim for his leadership during the recent conflict with India.
The visit marks one of the most visible and symbolically significant trips by a Pakistani military leader to the US in recent years. The timing is notable. It comes just weeks after military hostilities between Pakistan and India, and amid increasing scrutiny of Pakistan's domestic political and economic turmoil.
Munir arrived in Washington on Sunday for a five-day official visit focused on strengthening military and strategic relations between Pakistan and the United States, Dawn reported.
Not everyone is cheering
The celebratory digital displays in Times Square were swiftly shared across social media platforms, with pro-establishment voices touting them as proof of Pakistan Army's international stature.
'It's global recognition of Pakistan's strength, leadership, and rising influence under Field Marshal Asim Munir,' Dr Aakifah posted on X.
But not everyone was clapping.
'So who paid for that .. I mean if you don't know these billboards are paid ones, so all you have to do is give an amount for displaying whatever you want .. so my question would be who paid and how much has been paid ? As long as my tax money isn't used I don't care,' Sikander Ali asked on X.
However, booking a spot on a Times Square billboard is both accessible and surprisingly affordable for the general public and is not a show of strength. A growing number of services, such as TimesSquareBillboard.com and TSX Broadway, offer anyone the chance to upload personal photos or videos and display them at Times Square. TSX Broadway, one of the most prominent venues, allows people to book a 15-second display slot starting at just $40, while Billboard charges $150.
Moreover, only last week, a truck-mounted digital billboard in Times Square displayed Pakistan's top military and political leaders calling them 'liar' and 'fraud'. Funded by overseas supporters of Imran Khan's PTI, the mobile billboard featured scathing messages targeting Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and others, while portraying Khan as a political prisoner.
Another X user, with quite a telling username @UncertainTimes, pointed out: 'Look how WB/ IMF loans are recycled back. Anything can be done-If you can write a check. Whole show is-all about it.'
Ironically, some Pakistanis are also worried Asim Munir might be assassinated in the US. They are drawing comparisons with Israel killing Iranian generals.
'I'm getting a very bad feeling about Asim Munir going to the US at this time. Who will be responsible for his security there? Look at how Israel has annihilated Iranian generals. Cannot trust any Israeli ally right now,' a Pakistani X user, Saad, wrote.
Also read: Pakistan lowest in WEF gender gap report. Pakistanis agree, say 'worst place to be a woman'
PTI's doublespeak
Munir's US visit was met with protests by overseas Pakistanis who are against his official trip to Washington. Many of them are supporters of Imran Khan.
Videos circulated by PTI-affiliated accounts show crowds assembling in Washington, holding placards condemning the current military-led administration in Pakistan. Yet the party's top leadership appears divided.
'PTI has issued no such call,' said party chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan in a statement meant to distance the party from the protests. Still, prominent PTI figures like Aleema Khan—Imran Khan's sister—have publicly supported the demonstrations, leaving observers to wonder whether the party's messaging is fractured or strategically ambiguous.
'Intra party factionalism, doublespeak or pragmatism?' Pakistani author Raza Rumi asked on X.
(Edited by Aamaan Alam Khan)
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