The Pakistan military has rejected social media claims that the chief of army staff (COAS, General Syed Asim Munir, was leaving on a visit to the United States.

Social media users, especially Twitter accounts linked with the PTI, have claimed in recent days that Gen Munir was preparing to visit the United States for key meetings.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the military, issued a statement on Thursday to play down the claims.

“There have been on social media that COAS is visiting the USA. It is categorically stated that COAS is on an official visit to the UK from 5th to 10th February in connection with the 5th Pakistan-UK Stabilisation Conference,” it said.

The statement said that the conference was a bi-annual event for military-to-military cooperation between the two countries.

Senior Pakistan military leadership has been participating in the event since 2016, it said.