Amid warnings of nuclear war and calls for the military’s role in Pakistan’s politics, Field Marshal Asim Munir — the country’s de facto ruler — stirred controversy by likening India to a “shining Mercedes” and Pakistan to a “dump truck.” Speaking at an event in Florida, Munir appeared to suggest that while Pakistan may seem less polished than India, it is the more powerful neighbour.
Social media, however, saw it differently. Many users mocked the comparison, calling it an inadvertent admission of India’s superiority.
What Asim Munir said
“I am going to use a crude analogy to explain the situation… India is a shining Mercedes coming on a highway like a Ferrari [sic], but we are a dump truck full of gravel. If the truck hits the car, who is going to be the loser?” Munir reportedly said during his second US visit in two months.
Speaking at a special dinner hosted by Tampa’s honorary consul Adnan Asad, the Pakistani army chief also warned of a potential “nuclear war” and claimed his country could take down “half the world” if faced with an existential threat from India. He further touted Pakistan’s alleged oil and mineral reserves as the key to its economic revival.
Trolling
The remarks quickly went viral, drawing ridicule online. Critics pointed out that Munir’s analogy ended up painting Pakistan in an unflattering light.
“The only truth in Munir’s statement is that India is the Mercedes, and his country is the dump truck. The rest is delusion,” one X user wrote.