Did Netizens Mock Pakistan After Army Chief Munir Gifted a Photoshopped Image to PM Sharif?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Social media backlash can significantly impact military narratives.
- Authenticity in visual representation is crucial for credibility.
- The incident illustrates the challenges faced by military leadership in public perception.
- Timing of promotions can lead to public scrutiny and skepticism.
- The importance of transparency in military communications cannot be overstated.
New Delhi, May 25 (NationPress) In a fresh blow to Islamabad's efforts to promote a fabricated narrative of military success over India, social media users from Islamabad and beyond have ridiculed Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir. He presented a framed painting, which bears a close resemblance to an alleged Chinese military drill, as a gift to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during a prominent dinner event.
What intrigued internet users was the framed painting gifted by General Munir to Prime Minister Sharif.
Photos shared from the event depicted the painting, which was claimed to represent the so-called military operation against India.
However, attentive users on the social media platform X quickly noted that the image closely mirrored a photograph from a Chinese military exercise taken four years ago.
Numerous users asserted that the image was directly taken from publicly accessible visuals of Chinese People's Liberation Army drills, raising doubts about the legitimacy of Pakistan's depiction of Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos.
"It seems the Pakistan Army Chief has presented PM Shehbaz Sharif with an outdated Chinese military photo as a keepsake to demonstrate the Pak Army's offensive against India. It's not just a fake victory narrative but also a fake image accompanying it. What a farce @OfficialDGISPR," remarked one social media user on X.
Another user humorously commented, "They can't even create original visuals of their own military operation."
Meanwhile, another social media post highlighted an embarrassing moment where PM Shehbaz Sharif gifted a morphed photo of a Chinese PHL-03 rocket launcher, allegedly downloaded from Google Images, to Field Marshal Asim Munir. (smiling emoji).#pakistan #asimmunir #operationsindoor #India #viral #funny #globalnews #trending #news
Criticism has escalated regarding the timing of Munir's promotion.
Traditionally, the title of Field Marshal is reserved for military leaders who lead their nation to significant victory in combat.
However, in this instance, no such conflict has occurred. Reports suggest that during the alleged "Operation Sindoor," it was India that caused damage to Pakistan's airbases and effectively neutralized its drones and missiles.
A high-profile dinner hosted by Pakistan Field Marshal Asim Munir, Chief of Army Staff, has ignited new controversy online.
The event, intended to honor political leadership, the armed forces' "steadfast commitment," and the "indomitable spirit" of the Pakistani people as demonstrated during "Marka-e-Haq - Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos," became a target for widespread ridicule on social media.
High-ranking political and military leaders attended the dinner, including President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Senate Chairman Yusuf Raza Gilani, and others.
Indian defense systems have successfully thwarted Pakistan's military responses following Operation Sindoor, intercepting the majority of drones and unmanned aerial vehicles launched from across the border.
Despite these realities, the Pakistani narrative surrounding Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos was portrayed as a patriotic highlight at the dinner.
However, the revelation of the Chinese-origin image has now compromised the credibility of this narrative, turning the entire event into a subject of public derision.
As of now, neither the Pakistan Army nor the government has provided any clarification regarding the viral image or the backlash surrounding Munir's promotion.