In US, Pak army chief Asim Munir again resorts to dangerous rhetoric, calls out India's 'new normal'

During the trip, Munir will be hosted by US President Donald Trump for lunch at the White House

Pakistan army chief General Asim Munir, who is currently on an official visit to the United States, sought to project a brave front in response to India’s "new normal" against his country — even as he faced protests from PTI supporters gathered outside his hotel.

“India attempted to establish a ‘new normal’ — a dangerous precedent of crossing international borders at will,” Munir told a gathering of overseas Pakistanis in Washington, as per Pakistan-based Dawn.

He was referring to India's precision strikes on nine terror facilities in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) under Operation Sindoor in response to the deadly Pahalgam attack in Jammu & Kashmir.

The Pakistani army chief, who has been elevated to the Field Marshal rank, claimed that his forces "rejected" India's attempts and resisted its "hegemonic ambitions". Of course, the army chief casually ignored India's first message following Operation Sindoor that the strikes were measured, precise and non-escalatory.

Throughout his speech, Munir tried to project India's Operation Sindoor as the "original escalation", seeking to counter New Delhi's argument that the Pahalgam attack—carried out by a Pakistan-based LeT proxy—was the first strike.

In a bid to fan the post-war sentiments, Munir further said that "we would rather embrace martyrdom than accept this dishonour", according to the Dawn report.

Notably, he urged India to pursue peace through dialogue, echoing statements made by Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif and other leaders.

The Pakistan army chief, whose forces broke the ceasefire on May 10 within hours of the DGMO-level talks, said that both countries should resolve differences "like civilised nations" and "on equal footing.”

The rhetoric was meant to counter and undercut Prime Minister Narendra Modi's assertion that any dialogue with the neighbouring country will only be on terrorism and the PoK region. "Blood & water cannot flow together," Modi said in his address to the nation last month as he spelled out India's new doctrine against terrorism origination from Pakistan.

Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after the Pahalgam terror attack, with India carrying out precision strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on May 7.

The on-ground hostilities from the Indian and Pakistan sides that lasted for four days ended with an understanding of stopping the military actions following talks between the directors general of military operations of both sides on May 10.

Earlier, overseas Pakistanis protested against Munir outside an event at a hotel in Washington, DC. People shouted slogans "Pakistanio ke Qatil" and "Islamabad ke Qatil" while Munir was being welcomed at the event.

While sharing the video of the protest on X, Pak Tehreek-e-Insaaf (Imran Khan's party) stated, "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."