At a time when Pakistan faces a deepening economic crisis, Field Marshal and Army Chief Syed Asim Munir is reportedly preparing for back-to-back high-profile visits to Indonesia and Sri Lanka.
This raises fresh questions about elite privilege and military extravagance in the financially fragile nation.
Munir is scheduled to visit Indonesia later this month in a bid to rekindle diplomatic ties with Southeast Asia’s largest Muslim-majority country.
It should be worth noting that his visit comes at a time of strained relations, especially after Jakarta, along with Egypt and Bahrain, blocked Islamabad's attempts to push a strong reference against India over Kashmir during a meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Parliamentary Union earlier this May.
Munir, during his stay in Jakarta, will likely hold meetings with top lawmakers to revive a dormant bilateral relationship, even as Indonesia increasingly aligns itself with India on matters of territorial integrity and counter-terrorism.
However, even before landing in Indonesia, Munir will embark on what is being described as a luxury-filled “state” visit to Sri Lanka from July 20 to 23.
According to a News18 report, the Pakistani Army Chief's trip includes all the trappings of opulence -- a special aircraft, ceremonial bike escorts, multiple helicopter rides, and guided city tours. He will also stay at one of Colombo’s most exclusive five-star hotels, a privilege reportedly denied to Pakistan’s cabinet ministers due to ongoing austerity measures.
In Sri Lanka, Munir is expected to meet with the country’s Deputy Minister of Defence, Defence Secretary, and President.
The diplomatic nature of the visit is, nevertheless, overshadowed by its extravagant itinerary.
Munir will fly over iconic sites such as Sigiriya Rock Fortress and Adam’s Peak, visit the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, and tour the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kandy, all by helicopter.
Notably, this planned indulgence comes weeks after Munir was spotted shopping at a high-end American mall ahead of a lunch meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, sparking major backlash on social media.
It is worth mentioning that the contrast is stark.
While Pakistan, early this May, secured a $1 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Islamabad has simultaneously approved a 500 percent pay hike for top lawmakers.
Its citizens, meanwhile, continue to battle surging inflation, shrinking incomes, and public service cutbacks.
Pakistan, adding to the financial burden, is now the fourth-largest borrower from the IMF, with external debt and liabilities exceeding $130 billion, and public debt touching PKR 76 trillion.
This is nearly double since 2020–21.
As per the Economic Survey 2024–25, over half of the government’s revenues are now consumed by interest payments alone, leaving little room for development.
Against this grim backdrop, Munir’s globe-trotting is drawing a close and harsh scrutiny.
While government officials are restricted by austerity guidelines, the Army Chief’s itinerary resembles more of a taxpayer-funded royal tour than a diplomatic mission.
The widening gap between Pakistan’s civilian and military leadership, meantime, is also fueling speculation of a possible coup, as Munir continues to dominate the foreign policy landscape while the president and prime minister remain largely sidelined.
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