• Source:JND
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Amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan following the brutal terror attack in Pahalgam, a new controversy is brewing: Where is Pakistan’s Army Chief, General Syed Asim Munir? Social media is ablaze with the hashtag #MunirOut, as rumours swirl that Munir and his family have fled Pakistan. Reports citing local sources claim that Munir has either gone "missing in action" or is hiding inside a military bunker in Rawalpindi.

Adding to the intrigue, some unverified claims suggest that Munir, along with Director General ISPR Lt Gen Asim Malik and Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza, have left Pakistan altogether, allegedly relocating to the United Kingdom and New Jersey, USA, using private jets and diplomatic passports.

Government Attempts Damage Control

As speculations mounted, the Pakistani government scrambled to release photographic "proof" that everything is normal. However, the absence of Munir from public appearances in the critical 48 hours following the Pahalgam attack has only fueled the fire.

The situation worsened as netizens from both India and Pakistan questioned the silence. One user posted, "A week ago, he was full of chest-thumping bravado — now he’s nowhere to be seen. He hasn't come to GHQ since yesterday morning." Another remarked, "He sent his family abroad and went into hiding himself."

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The Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 civilians, has led to a significant diplomatic fallout. India, backed by intelligence inputs confirming Pakistani involvement, took the unprecedented step of suspending the Indus Waters Treaty. This historic agreement, which survived four wars between the two nations, is now under threat, deepening the rift. Islamabad, meanwhile, called India's move "illegal."

Pakistani Defence Minister's Controversial Statement

In a parallel development, Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, in an interview with Sky News, claimed that terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba no longer exists in Pakistan. "If the parent organisation does not exist, how can the offshoot (The Resistance Front) take birth here?" he said, attempting to distance Islamabad from allegations following the attack.

However, the timing of his statement, right after the Pahalgam killings, has been seen as a desperate bid to placate international pressure. With India hardening its stance and Pakistan’s top military leadership reportedly missing or abroad, uncertainty looms large over Islamabad’s next move.

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