In an unexpected turn of events, a video that purportedly shows General Asim Munir, the Chief of Army Staff of the Pakistan Army, shopping at a mall in the United States has gone viral on social media. This footage is circulating just days before his highly anticipated meeting with US President Donald Trump. General Munir is currently on a significant five-day official visit to the United States, which aims to bolster military cooperation between the two nations.

Asim Munir, who has held the esteemed position of Army Chief since 2022, is the 11th individual to serve in this role. Prior to his current appointment, he made a name for himself as the Director-General of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Pakistan's premier intelligence agency. His experience in military and intelligence operations makes him a key figure in discussions around regional security and cooperation.

General Munir's meeting with President Trump is scheduled for lunch on Wednesday, according to the official itinerary released by the White House. This meeting comes on the heels of a controversial situation where the US administration publicly denied having extended an invitation to General Munir for the US Army's 250th anniversary celebrations—an event that many viewed as a snub.

The video in question was shared on Facebook by the Pakistan Tribune, claiming to show the Army Chief enjoying leisure time in a shopping mall during his official visit. The accompanying caption read: “Pakistan's Field Marshal General Asim Munir and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi Spotted somewhere [Shopping Mall] in the US.” However, the authenticity of this video has been called into question. Many users on social media platforms, particularly X (formerly Twitter), have criticized Munir, suggesting that he was acting like a “jobless man” instead of fulfilling his official duties. Some have speculated that his outing might be a diversionary tactic to keep him uninvolved in US strategies regarding Pakistan's role in any potential military actions involving Iran.

Despite the widespread sharing and commentary surrounding the video, no credible news outlets have reported on its authenticity or confirmed that Munir engaged in leisure activities during his visit. In fact, Grok, a conversational AI chatbot developed by xAI, has weighed in, stating, “The claim that Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir was sightseeing in an American mall is likely false or exaggerated.” Grok emphasized that Munir's visit was intended to focus on enhancing military ties rather than indulging in leisure. Furthermore, the chatbot noted that previous claims—such as an invitation to a US military parade—have also been debunked, suggesting a pattern of misinformation related to General Munir. As things stand, the speculation regarding the mall video only serves to distract from the diplomatic engagements that are at the core of his visit.