Sufi Laghari, a Sindhi human rights advocate and author, has strongly criticised Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, General Asim Munir, for his recent visit to the White House, framing the event as emblematic of both US transactional interests and the ongoing struggles of Sindhi and other marginalised communities in Pakistan.
Laghari accused US President Donald Trump of being “confused” and motivated by corporate interests in Pakistan above real diplomatic or humanitarian concerns. According to Laghari, Trump’s invitation to General Munir was not a gesture of statesmanship, but rather a premeditated attempt to obtain access to Pakistan’s resources and use Pakistan’s military apparatus against India. Laghari stated, “President Trump seems perplexed. He is not a politician but a businessman.
He is looking at the resources of Pakistan. There is no free lunch here, so he invited Asim Munir. Asim Munir’s main goal here is money to oppose India…” This mirrors a broader cynicism among Sindhi activists about the United States’ engagement with Pakistan’s military, which they see as transactional and ultimately detrimental to the interests of Pakistan’s ethnic minority groups.
South Asia scholar Michael Kugelman added, “For what it’s worth, the upcoming Trump-Munir summit should not be viewed solely through the lens of the Israel-Iran conflict. There has been US-Pakistan cooperation on key minerals, cryptocurrency, and counterterrorism. Trump has a strong personal stake in all of these. Munir is free to discuss everything. Also, Kashmir.”
Laghari’s criticisms were not isolated. During Munir’s visit, large protests broke out outside the Four Seasons Hotel in Washington, D.C., where he was staying. These demonstrations, spearheaded mostly by Pakistani-Americans, including supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, included slogans like “Islamabad ka qatil” (Killer of Islamabad) and “Pakistanio ke Qatil” (Killer of Pakistanis).
Protesters held placards and digital displays labeling Munir as a “mass murderer,” “dictator,” and “criminal dictator,” highlighting broad dissatisfaction among the diaspora with the military’s participation in Pakistani politics and alleged human rights violations.
Laghari was seen outside the White House holding a poster that read, “Asim Munir – Thief of River Indus, Butcher of Moro: Sindh,” which highlighted problems particular to the Sindhi people, such as alleged water theft and violence in the Sindh region.
Laghari’s words attracted attention to long-standing difficulties confronting Sindhis, particularly water rights. He accused the Punjabi-dominated Pakistani state of robbing Sindh of its fair share of Indus River water through the construction of canals and dams, resulting in chronic water shortages. Laghari stated, “Sindhis have suffered for the past 76 years.
There is no water in the Indus River anymore; it is running dry, and they blame India. Punjab is cutting off our water supply by constructing canals and dams. Minorities, Sindhis, and Sufis are suffering at the hands of the Pakistani regime; if we remain silent, our land and the Indus will vanish…” This narrative reflects a deep-seated hatred of the central government’s perceived exploitation and marginalisation.
He also cited a historical pattern of US cooperation with Pakistani military regimes, noting that previous army commanders such as Ayub Khan, Zia ul Haq, and Pervez Musharraf were similarly welcomed by US presidents, often at the expense of Pakistan’s democratic forces.
General Munir’s journey to the United States, the first by a Pakistani military official in over two decades, came at a time of heightened regional tensions, particularly the ongoing confrontation between Iran and Israel. According to analysts, the US is looking to enhance counterterrorism cooperation with Pakistan, particularly against groups such as Islamic State Khorasan (IS-K), while also taking into account Pakistan’s potential involvement in broader regional security dynamics.
President Trump claimed credit for helping to prevent a conflict between India and Pakistan, while Indian authorities explained that the truce was reached through direct military talks. The encounter between Trump and Munir, which included a closed-door lunch at the White House, was regarded as very significant, indicating a potential rebalancing of US-Pakistan relations and a renewed emphasis on military-to-military collaboration.
Sufi Laghari’s vocal condemnation of both General Asim Munir’s visit and President Trump’s objectives reflects widespread dissatisfaction among Sindhi and other minority activists with US policy toward Pakistan.
The rallies in Washington, D.C., and the strong rhetoric used by diaspora groups highlight the long-standing conflicts between Pakistan’s military elite and its numerous ethnic and political populations, as well as skepticism about US goals in the region. The episode emphasizes the intricate mix of geopolitics, human rights, and diaspora activism that shapes contemporary US-Pakistan relations.
