PM Shehbaz Sharif claims credit for Asif Muneer's elevation as Pakistan's field marshal
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday said he personally decided to elevate army chief general Asim Munir to the rank of field marshal for his role in the recent conflict with India.
The announcement followed a cabinet meeting chaired by Shehbaz on Tuesday, where the decision to promote Munir was finalised.
Asim Munir is the first Pakistani army officer since general Ayub Khan to be promoted to the rank of field marshal, a title last conferred in 1959.
Speaking to a select group of journalists, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif discussed the recent four-day conflict with India along with other key issues, Geo News reported.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the decision to promote the army chief was his own, though he consults his elder brother and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif on key matters.
Shehbaz stressed that war brings victory to one side and loss to the other, adding, 'Only lasting peace can guarantee a secure future.'
India and Pakistan agreed to end hostilities on May 10 after four days of intense drone and missile exchanges across the border.
Regarding talks between Islamabad and New Delhi, Shehbaz said that whenever discussions on terrorism take place, they will be held by the national security advisers of both countries.
He said India is not willing to involve any third country in the dialogue process.
India has always maintained that the Kashmir issue is a bilateral matter with Pakistan, and there is no space for any third party.
Prime Minister Shehbaz also said that Pakistan will raise four key points in any future dialogue with India, Kashmir, water, trade, and terrorism. He suggested that holding talks in a third country could be a good decision.
He also claimed that Israel 'extensively supported India' during the conflict with Pakistan.
In the same interaction, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that a return to peace between Pakistan and India followed an understanding reached by the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of both countries, according to Dunya News.
He credited US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio for playing a crucial role in brokering the ceasefire. Shehbaz also noted that China, Turkey, and other allied nations had extended firm support to Pakistan during the crisis.
He went on to allege that Indian intelligence agencies had been backing the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), but did not provide evidence to substantiate the claim.
With PTI inputs
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
36 minutes ago
- Time of India
Ahd tragedy ignites aviation safety debate
1 2 Ludhiana: People of Ludhiana have long waited for the Halwara civil airport to become operational, but concerns about aviation safety following the June 12 Air India crash in Ahmedabad have cast a long shadow on the prospects of improved air connectivity. Citizens, alumni groups, and activists are demanding stringent safety measures in the wake of the unprecedented tragedy. It has heightened public fears and ignited debates over infrastructure development around airports. While the demand and anticipation for full-fledged air operations from the the industrial city have remained for years fuelled by aspirations for better connectivity and economic growth, the AI tragedy has raised questions about whether safety is being compromised in the rush to operationalise airports. For years, Ludhiana residents and business leaders have advocated for commercial flights, but now they are demanding a comprehensive re-evaluation of safety regulations and land-use planning around the airport zone. Deeply affected by the Ahmedabad tragedy, the alumni of SCD Govt College said the govt acts only after a tragedy of this scale. Brij Bhushan Goyal, organising secretary of the alumni body, said, "The lives lost are a result of regulatory negligence. Our politicians must act as guardians of public safety, not just as figureheads who react after public outrage." They have raised the demand for a complete ban on further housing or urban development around the airport. They said the periphery of Halwara airport is seeing rapid urbanisation, especially under development schemes by Glada, but it is putting lives at risk in case of any air mishap. "The area is being consumed by housing colonies with no concern for aviation safety," Goyal added. Col JS Gill (retd), a social activist said, "We need population-free safety buffers around all Indian airfields."
Time of India
36 minutes ago
- Time of India
Adani's Haifa port unaffected by Iranian missile strikes, operations normal: Sources
JERUSALEM: The Indian billionaire Gautam Adani-led group's Haifa port in Israel was unharmed by the Iranian ballistic missile attack, with cargo operations progressing unhampered, sources said. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Late on Saturday night, Iran targeted Israel's Haifa port and a nearby oil refinery in response to Tel Aviv's attack on Iranian nuclear and other targets earlier this week. Shrapnels fell in the chemical terminal at the port and some other projectiles fell at the oil refinery, two sources aware of the matter said. They claimed there were no injuries. Adani's port, however, was not impacted by the strike. A piece of interceptor shrapnel was also found at the Kishan West (Haifa port) but there were no injuries, they said. Cargo operations at the Adani-operated port were unhampered. "There are eight ships in the port now, cargo operations are normal," a source said. The Iranian ballistic missile attack did not inflict any damage to the port or its operations, the sources claimed. The Adani group did not immediately offer any comments on the issue. Israeli government authorities could not be immediately reached for comments. Haifa port serves as a crucial maritime hub, handling over 30 per cent of Israel's imports. It is owned by Adani Ports, which controls a 70 per cent share. The missiles may have caused damage to a major oil refinery close to the port but there was no official comment on the impact on it. Haifa is less than 2 per cent of the volume handled by Adani Ports and SEZ and contributed about 5 per cent of the revenue. APSEZ handles a total cargo of 10.57 million tonnes. Israel attacked Iran early Friday, targeting its nuclear, missile and military infrastructure. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Iran later launched retaliatory strikes on Israel. The two countries traded strikes for a third day on Sunday as the Middle East region braced for a protracted conflict. Iran said Israel struck two oil refineries, raising the prospect of a broader assault on Iran's heavily sanctioned energy industry that could affect global markets. Some Iranian missiles evaded Israeli air defences to strike buildings in the heart of the country.
United News of India
an hour ago
- United News of India
HDK assures Kannadigas stranded in Israel of swift return
Bengaluru, Jun 15 (UNI) Former Karnataka Chief Minister and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy on Sunday said he had spoken to several Kannadigas stranded in Israel amid the ongoing conflict and assured them that steps were being taken for their safe return. Taking to social media platform X, Kumaraswamy said he had inquired about their well-being and conveyed that the matter was being actively pursued with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to ensure a swift and secure evacuation. "I also conveyed that the Government of India, under the leadership of Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi avaru, is doing everything within its capacity to ensure the safety and welfare of all Indian nationals abroad," he said. He also expressed appreciation for the efforts of Indian Embassy officials in Israel for extending timely support to Indian citizens during this challenging time. UNI BDN GNK
