What’s behind Pakistan army chief’s attire while receiving delegates
By Abid Hussain
Reporting from Islamabad, Pakistan
When the Iranian delegation arrived in Islamabad on Friday night, Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, received them in military fatigues. On Saturday morning, when US Vice President J D Vance landed, he was wearing a suit.
Does the switch signal anything, or is there a protocol behind it?
A former general, who also served under Pakistan’s last military ruler Pervez Musharraf, says there is no fixed instruction on what an army chief must wear when receiving such delegations.
“Usually, their staff suggests what they should wear, or other times it is the desire of the chief himself, what influence he wants to project. Under the Musharraf era, when I was in service, he would meet delegations sometimes in uniform and other times in a suit,” the general told Al Jazeera on condition of anonymity.
Another recently retired general also said the question of the chief’s attire was “perhaps a non-issue”.
“Protocols obviously vary greatly when it comes to meeting presidents or vice presidents. Normally for such VIPs, the army chief is not part of the welcome party. But we are living in extraordinary times, these are not usual protocols,” he told Al Jazeera.
The deviation from normal protocol, he added, reflects the importance of the ceasefire talks “not just for Pakistan, but for the world”.
Iran war updates: Trump says US in ‘very deep’ negotiations with Tehran
These were the updates from the ceasefire talks between the US and Iran on Saturday, April 11, 2026.www.aljazeera.com
This will also be a huge PR win for Vance. As most American political pundits are saying that Vance is already playing his cards carefully and doing his part as a means of running for President in future. That's why he had been silent on the whole matter of Iran war and he wants to gain support of his core base as a president who is anti-war. Trump betrayed his core following MAGA base and Vance will take on that role.
What’s behind Pakistan army chief’s attire while receiving delegates
By Abid Hussain
Reporting from Islamabad, Pakistan
When the Iranian delegation arrived in Islamabad on Friday night, Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, received them in military fatigues. On Saturday morning, when US Vice President J D Vance landed, he was wearing a suit.
Does the switch signal anything, or is there a protocol behind it?
A former general, who also served under Pakistan’s last military ruler Pervez Musharraf, says there is no fixed instruction on what an army chief must wear when receiving such delegations.
“Usually, their staff suggests what they should wear, or other times it is the desire of the chief himself, what influence he wants to project. Under the Musharraf era, when I was in service, he would meet delegations sometimes in uniform and other times in a suit,” the general told Al Jazeera on condition of anonymity.
Another recently retired general also said the question of the chief’s attire was “perhaps a non-issue”.
“Protocols obviously vary greatly when it comes to meeting presidents or vice presidents. Normally for such VIPs, the army chief is not part of the welcome party. But we are living in extraordinary times, these are not usual protocols,” he told Al Jazeera.
The deviation from normal protocol, he added, reflects the importance of the ceasefire talks “not just for Pakistan, but for the world”.
Iran war updates: Trump says US in ‘very deep’ negotiations with Tehran
These were the updates from the ceasefire talks between the US and Iran on Saturday, April 11, 2026.
