Field Marshal Asim Munir featured on Times Square during US visit

LONDON/NEW YORK/DALLAS: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir has been featured on a digital billboard in New York City’s Times Square during his visit to the United States.

The billboard shows images of Field Marshal Asim Munir alongside the Pakistani flag.

COAS Asim Munir is visiting the US for a week, reportedly at the invitation of US military leadership. He was promoted to the rank of Field Marshal last month.

The field marshal is also seen in the video with a group of US senators as well as with Pakistani children. The video shows Pakistan as a progressive nation, interested in education, technology and peace.

The Times Square campaign will run for a week. It has been launched by the local administration to welcome the Pakistan military leader who has won wide praise over his role in the recent conflict with India.

Ahead of COAS Munir’s visit to Washington, Commander of the United States Central Command (Centcom) General Michael Kurilla praised Field Marshal Munir and the Pakistan Army.

Testifying before the House Armed Services Committee, General Kurilla called Pakistan a “phenomenal partner in the counterterrorism world” as he underscored Islamabad’s role in the operations against Daesh-Khorasan.

"Through a phenomenal partnership with Pakistan, they have gone after Daesh-Khorasan, killing dozens of them. Through a relationship we have with them, providing intelligence, they have captured at least five Daesh-Khorasan high-value individuals," he said.

Kurilla mentioned Mohammad Sharifullah alias Jafar, allegedly involved in the 2021 Kabul airport suicide bombing that killed 13 American military personnel and over 160 civilians. He said that after the arrest of Jafar, "the first person Munir called was me and said, ‘I’ve caught him, I’m willing to extradite him back to the US. Please tell the secretary of defence and the president".

'Stand with Pakistan'

Meanwhile, the Pakistani community residing in Dallas–Fort Worth also organised a dignified welcome and expression of solidarity event under the banner of the organisation "Stand with Pakistan" to mark Field Marshal Munir’s arrival in the United States".

A grand dinner reception was held, attended by Pakistan's Consul General Aftab Chaudhry, Texas State Assembly Member Terry Meza, and several prominent members of the Pakistani community.

While addressing the ceremony, Consul General Aftab Chaudhry said that the Pakistani armed forces bravely defended against recent Indian aggression and, under the professional leadership of Field Marshal Munir, gave a strong response to the enemy.

The consul general further said that the relations between Pakistan and the United States span several decades, and the field marshal being invited to the 250th anniversary celebrations of the US Army reflected these long-standing ties between the two countries.

Speaking on the occasion, Texas State Assembly Member Terry Meza said that she felt very close to the Pakistani, Kashmiri, and Sikh communities, and she is proud to stand with societies that believe in peace, equality, and justice.

Terry Meza underscored that she always raised her voice against extremist thinking, and for that reason, supporters of Modi’s government in India do not like her. She described India's PM Narendra Modi as a leader possessing the same extremist mindset, saying such leadership divides societies and promotes hatred, while the world urgently needs peace, diversity, and justice.