The invitation extended by the United States to Pakistan’s Chief of the Army Staff, General Syed Asim Munir—now reportedly promoted to Field Marshal—for the 250th anniversary of the US Army is not merely a diplomatic gesture. It is a calculated slight and an affront to our country which continues to bleed from Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. The timing and context of this invitation make it reek of dishonesty and betrayal—words not used lightly in the theatre of international diplomacy. India has long maintained that the Pakistani military establishment, particularly the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), has been the architect and patron of terrorism in the region. From the 2008 Mumbai attacks to the Pulwama bombing and, more recently, the cowardly attack in Pahalgam that took the lives of innocent tourists, the fingerprints of Pakistan’s deep state have been impossible to ignore. The US, being no stranger to intelligence reports and global terror networks, is fully aware of these realities. Yet, instead of condemning Pakistan’s complicity, Washington has rolled out the red carpet. It is impossible to separate symbolism from substance in global diplomacy. The optics of General Munir standing shoulder to shoulder with US military brass during an event that coincides with former President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday is more than ceremonial—it is a signal. A signal that the strategic weight of Pakistan in American calculus remains unchanged, regardless of its ignoble track record. That Trump, known for his transactional view of geopolitics, is tied to the timing only worsens the optics. As a “natural ally” of the United States in the Indo-Pacific, we are absolutely right to feel betrayed. This move undermines not just our security concerns but also the global war on terror. It signals a return to old habits—where short-term strategic convenience trumps long-term principled alliances. The irony is staggering. While our soldiers stand guard against Pakistani aggression along the Line of Control, while our intelligence services unravel plots hatched across the border, and while our civilians fall victim to these dark designs, the architect-in-chief is being honored in Washington. If the US truly views India as a key strategic partner, it must walk the talk. Symbolic gestures like Quad meetings and trade agreements ring hollow when juxtaposed with a platform for Pakistan’s military leadership. You cannot court our country with one hand and clasp Pakistan’s bloodied one with the other. This is not realpolitik; it’s moral abdication. And our country’s leadership should not stay silent.