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India Today
18-06-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Days after denying parade invite, Trump to meet Pak's Asim Munir at White House
Pakistan's Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, is scheduled to have a closed-door lunch with US President Donald Trump on Wednesday at the White private luncheon will be held in the Cabinet Room, and no press access has been permitted. The meeting between Trump and Asim Munir is scheduled to take place at 1 PM (Washington time), in the White House Cabinet Room, according to the president's daily public Pakistani military leader is also expected to meet with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on his US trip, according to reports. Munir, who arrived in Washington on Sunday for a five-day official visit, reportedly seeks to reinforce strategic ties with the United States. As noted in a report by Dawn, the visit is "primarily bilateral in nature" and, despite its timing, is not officially linked to the US Army's 250th anniversary celebrations on June there were murmurs that the Pakistani field marshal would be attending the US Army Day parade. However, the claims were officially denied by the US. "This is false. No foreign military leaders were invited," a White House official RALLY AGAINST ASIM MUNIRHowever, the optics of the visit have been complicated by a vocal protest movement. Supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan confronted Munir outside the Four Seasons Hotel in Washington, chanting slogans and branding him 'the Butcher of Pakistanis.' The luxury hotel briefly turned into an impromptu protest site. Analysts described the moment as 'a major embarrassment' for the Pakistan Army and a public signal of its 'eroding credibility.'advertisementAs individuals, seemingly officials, exited the vehicles, a protester yelled "Geedad, geedad, geedad (jackal, jackal, jackal)" — a derogatory term implying cowardice and claimed that the discussions are expected to cover regional stability, counterterrorism cooperation, and broader security issues, though officials have not confirmed any specific CREDITS US TRADE POLICY FOR INDIA-PAK PEACE DEALAsim Munir's so-called strategic visit comes after the military escalation with India in May. Trump has asserted that his administration's trade policies with the United States were instrumental in brokering peace between India and Pakistan. However, this claim lacks supporting evidence, and India has rejected the notion that trade played a key role in any understanding with month, India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar directly linked Pakistan Munir's "extreme religious outlook" to the terror attack in Pahalgam, where Lashkar terrorists killed 26 people based on their religion. Jaishankar elaborated on his assessment, stating, "To understand that, you have to see that on the Pakistani side, especially their Army chief, who is driven by an extreme religious outlook. There is clearly some connection between the views that were expressed and the manner the attack was carried out."Must Watch
India Today
17-06-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Pakistani-Americans protest against Asim Munir in Washington DC
Pakistani Americans gathered outside the Four Seasons hotel in Washington DC, protesting against Field Marshal Asim Munir and condemning what they called his crimes against the people of Pakistan, said Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in a post on X. The protests came soon after there were murmurs that the Pakistani field marshal would be attending the US Army Day parade. However, the claims were officially denied by the clarification followed reports that the US had invited General Munir, which triggered political backlash in India. The Congress party termed it a "diplomatic setback", especially in light of Operation Sindoor -- India's recent precision strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir (POK).The protests also coincide with growing criticism within Pakistan against Munir's military leadership, marked by heightened tensions with India. Munir has faced accusations of suppressing Imran Khan's PTI party and repeatedly interfering in civilian politics, drawing condemnation from various quarters.A video posted by PTI USA's official X account displayed a slide labelling Munir as a "Mass murderer Asim Munir", alongside slogans such as "Democracy dies when guns speak", "Asim Munir, your time is up – Pakistan will rise!" and "Movement for Democratic Pakistan".The slide featured his photo in military uniform, crossed out in PTI post's caption read: "Pakistani-Americans in Washington, DC are protesting outside the Four Seasons hotel, reminding General Asim Munir of the crimes he's committed against the people of Pakistan."The post was accompanied by the hashtag # another clip seemingly from the same location, a protester was heard shouting, "Asim Munir, Islamabad ka kaatil (Asim Munir, murderer of Islamabad)", as security personnel urged him to step back from the hotel's reception likely from outside the same hotel, showed several black SUVs with flashing lights — likely part of an official convoy — arriving at the chanted, "Shame! Shame on you, free Pakistan!", "Civilian supremacy in Pakistan!", "Dictator, shame on you!", and "Shame on you, Asim Munir!", along with expletives in English and Punjabi directed at the Pakistani security attempted to disperse the protestors, one protester said, "I have freedom, I'm on the pavement," asserting they were not trespassing on private property. Security officers claimed the demonstrators were on private property premises, but the group refused to move, insisting they were standing on public individuals, seemingly officials exited the vehicles, a protester yelled "Geedad, geedad, geedad (jackal, jackal, jackal)" — a derogatory term implying cowardice and Reel
India Gazette
17-06-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
"Peddler of liars, factory of fake news": Shahzad Poonawalla slams Congress over caste census remarks
New Delhi [India], June 17 (ANI): Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) spokesperson Shahzad Poonawalla on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on the Congress, accusing the party of spreading fake news and lies on the issue of caste census and India's global diplomatic matters. His remarks came amid an ongoing political debate over the central government's stand on caste-based data collection. In a briefing, Poonawalla said, 'Congress is a peddler of liars and a factory of fake news... Lying has become their characteristic... Their lies have been exposed -- first that India was not invited to G7 summit, and second that Pakistan's Asim Munir has been invited to the US Army Day and that it was a failure of India's policies.' The BJP leader further accused Congress of deliberately misleading the public over the government's stand on the caste census. He said, 'Now Congress is on another lie. They are saying that the central government is taking a U-turn on the caste census... Various press releases of the government say that the caste census will be done.' He also alleged that Congress has a history of neglecting the rights of the Other Backwards Classes (OBCs). 'Congress is spreading misinformation because it is in their DNA to take away the rights of the OBC,' Poonawalla added. The statement came as political tensions remained high over the caste census demand, with the Congress accusing the BJP of avoiding concrete commitments, while the BJP maintained that the government has been transparent about its position. Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah reviewed preparations for the upcoming Census of India, which is now officially set to include caste enumeration, as per the official statement from the Ministry of Home Affairs. The minister hailed this move as a 'historic decision' that corrected a 'historical wrong.' The notification to conduct the Census was published in the official Gazette on Monday, following a high-level meeting held in Delhi, where the Home Minister reviewed the plan along with the Union Home Secretary, Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India (RG&CCI), and other senior officials. The Population Census 2027 will begin with a reference date of March 1, 2027, for most parts of the country. The reference date for snow-bound and non-synchronous areas such as Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand will be October 1, 2026. According to the official statement, around 34 lakh enumerators and supervisors and 1.3 lakh Census functionaries will be deployed for the exercise. This will be the first fully digital Census, using mobile apps and offering a self-enumeration option to citizens. The last Census was conducted in 2011. A new round scheduled for 2021 was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, despite all initial preparations being completed. (ANI)
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First Post
15-06-2025
- Politics
- First Post
‘This is false': White House rejects reports that Pak Army chief Asim Munir was invited to military parade
The White House clarified that no foreign military leaders were invited to the parade, held to mark the 250th anniversary celebrations of the US Armed Forces read more (File) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir (C) prays after laying wreath on the martyrs' monument during a guard of honor ceremony at General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi on May 21, 2025. Photo by Handout/ Pakistan's Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). AFP The White House on Sunday (June 15) rejected reports that Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir was invited as a guest to the military parade in Washington DC. 'This is false. No foreign military leaders were invited,' news agency ANI quoted a White House official as saying. Earlier, it was reported that Munir was invited by the Donald Trump administration to the parade, which was organised to mark the 250th anniversary celebrations of the US Armed Forces. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The reports triggered a backlash in India as well as among the Pakistani-American community in the US, who accuse the general of undermining democracy back home and leading a crackdown on the political party of jailed former PM Imran Khan. In India, the reports prompted the opposition Congress party to criticise the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling it a major 'diplomatic setback' for New Delhi. 'It is reported that Pakistani Army Chief General Asim Munir has been invited to the event organised in Washington DC on the occasion of US Army Day (14 June). This news is a big setback for India from a diplomatic and strategic point of view,' senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said in a post on X. 'This is the same person who used provocative and inciting language just before the Pahalgam terror attack - the question arises what is America's intention?' the Congress leader asked. US military parade On Saturday, President Donald Trump's long-awaited military parade rolled down Constitution Avenue, featuring tanks, troops, and a 21-gun salute. The event coincided with Trump's 79th birthday and took place under cloudy skies and light rain, with the president watching from a special stand south of the White House. 'Every other country celebrates their victories. It's about time America did too,' Trump declared in brief remarks at the parade's end. In contrast, anti-Trump activists, including civil rights groups and labor unions, organised nationwide 'No Kings' protests. They criticised the parade, held on Trump's birthday, as a display of authoritarian tendencies.
India Today
15-06-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Did US invite Pak's Army chief to its military parade? White House clarifies
The United States on Sunday refuted claims that Pakistan's Army Chief, General Asim Munir, was invited as a guest to the ongoing military parade in Washington to mark the 250th anniversary celebrations of the US Armed Forces."This is false. No foreign military leaders were invited," news agency ANI quoted a White House official as saying. The clarification followed reports that the US had invited General Munir, which triggered political backlash in India. The Congress party termed it a "diplomatic setback", especially in light of Operation Sindoor — India's recent precision strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir (POK).advertisement "It is reported that Pakistani Army Chief General Asim Munir has been invited to the event organised in Washington DC on the occasion of US Army Day (14 June). This news is a big setback for India from a diplomatic and strategic point of view," senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said in a post on X. "This is the same person who used provocative and inciting language just before the Pahalgam terror attack - the question arises what is America's intention?" the Congress leader asked. Meanwhile, the BJP rejected these claims and accused Jairam Ramesh of "spreading misinformation" and "casting aspersion" on India's foreign policy. "Driven by his relentless animosity towards Prime Minister Modi, Jairam Ramesh irresponsibly amplified false claims alleging that Pakistan's Army Chief, General Asim Munir, was invited to the US parade," BJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya posted on X. advertisement"In his eagerness to attack the prime minister, Ramesh not only spread misinformation but also cast aspersions on India's foreign policy, effectively echoing narratives that serve Pakistan's interests," he added. US MILITARY PARADEIn a rare display of military might, Washington is set to host a grand parade on Sunday to mark the founding of the US Army on June 14, 1775 — a date that also coincides with President Donald Trump's 79th birthday. Trump is expected to take the salute at the of troops, tanks, helicopters, and parachutists will be part of the spectacle, alongside military displays are uncommon in the US, which lacks the tradition of annual military parades seen in countries like India or France. The last major military parade in the capital was over three decades ago, in 1991, after the Gulf War victory in Operation Desert Watch
