His Marshal

• Gen. Asim Munir, Pakistan’s Army chief, emphasizes the country’s high civilization, noble ideology, and proud identity.

• He pledges to not forget Kashmir and not leave its brothers in their historical struggle.

• Five days later, 26 civilians were killed in Kashmir’s Pahalgam by armed terrorists, with the Resistance Front claiming responsibility.

• On May 7, India launched Operation Sindoor, an air strike at terror sites inside Pakistan. Pakistan responded with more fire, leading to missile attacks.

• Pakistan’s coalition government, led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, praises Gen. Munir and promotes him as Field Marshal, the highest rank in the military.

• Gen. Munir was the shortest-serving head of the Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI) before becoming the most powerful man in Pakistan.

• Gen. Munir was appointed the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) as he tried to make a comeback.

• The promotion of Gen. Munir as Field Marshal aims to reinforce the narrative that the military effectively responded to India’s May 7 strikes.

• Gen. Munir’s promotion weakens the institutional balance in Pakistan, where the military has always been the markhor in the room.

Asim Munir’s Military Career and Challenges

Early Days and Career

• Asim Munir started his military career as a Second Lieutenant in 1986.

• He rose through the ranks quickly, becoming a Military Intelligence Director-General in 2017.

• He was promoted to Lieutenant-General in September 2018 and later to the ISI Director-General.

• Despite criticism from Gen. Khan, Munir remained committed to protecting the interests of the military and the state.

Challenges and Overreach

• Pakistan-India relations were already low when Munir took over as Army chief.

• The Pulwama attack in February 2019 led to an air strike in Balakot, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

• The military faced a credibility crisis after Gen. Khan was jailed.

• Relations with the Afghan Taliban soured, leading to crackdowns on Afghan refugees.

• Under Munir’s watch, insurgency and political rebellion in Balochistan grew.

Consolidated Power

• Gen. Munir used crises as opportunities to consolidate power.

• He invoked the two-nation theory and intensified rhetoric on Kashmir.

• He positioned himself as the new strongman, embracing religion, ideology, and anti-India sentiment.

• He promoted him as Field Marshal to reinforce the narrative that the military effectively responded to India’s May 7 strikes.