Consequences of Munir's promotion to Field Marshal: Pakistan army echoes terrorist rhetoric

Time of India

24-05-2025

S D Pradhan has served as chairman of India's Joint Intelligence Committee. He has also been the country's deputy national security adviser. He was chairman of the Task Force on Intelligence Mechanism (2008-2010), which was constituted to review the functioning of the intelligence agencies. He has taught at the departments of defence studies and history at the Punjabi University, Patiala. He was also a visiting professor at the University of Illinois, US, in the department of arms control and disarmament studies. The ministry of defence had utilized his services for the preparation of official accounts of the 1971 war and the counterinsurgency operations in the northeast. In the JIC/National Security Council secretariat, he was closely involved with the preparation of the reports of the Kargil Review Committee and the Group of Ministers on national security as also with the implementation of their recommendations. His publications include two books and several articles. LESS ... MORE
The elevation of General Asim Munir to the rank of Field Marshal has taken the strategic community by surprise. Many had assumed Munir's primary goal was to secure an extension of his tenure by escalating tensions with India. His promotion, however, came in the wake of a significant military setback against India, raising serious questions about its timing and intent.
Operation Sindoor: A strategic setback for Pakistan
India's Operation Sindoor inflicted a severe blow on Pakistan's military and terror infrastructure. In this decisive operation, nine terrorist camps were destroyed, resulting in the death of over 100 militants, including senior commanders. Indian forces also targeted and destroyed 11 Pakistani airbases, eight fighter jets, an airborne warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft (SAAB 2000), six Bayraktar TB2 UCAVs, and two Shaheen-class missiles. India captured a Chinese-made PL-15 air-to-air missile and neutralized Pakistani LY-80 and HQ-9 air defence systems, underscoring the vulnerabilities of Pakistan's Chinese-supplied arsenal.
International military analysts echoed the success of the operation. Austrian expert Tom Cooper described it as a 'clear-cut victory' for India, while American analyst John Spencer highlighted that India had demonstrated the capability to strike Pakistan at will. Faced with overwhelming losses, Pakistan requested a ceasefire.
False narratives and manufactured propaganda
Despite the heavy damage, the Pakistani military, in coordination with its civilian government, launched an aggressive propaganda campaign claiming victory over India. Unsupported allegations of damage to Indian airbases were circulated, though satellite imagery provided no evidence. This false narrative served a domestic purpose: to mask the military's failure and to justify Munir's elevation.
The civilian government, led by Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, quickly endorsed Munir's promotion, stating it was in recognition of his 'brilliant military leadership' and 'courageous defence of Pakistan's sovereignty.' However, the move is widely perceived as a political manoeuvre to restore the Army's image and solidify Munir's position amid internal criticism from within the ranks.
A dangerous convergence with terrorist ideology
What followed Munir's promotion was even more alarming: a marked shift in the rhetoric of the Pakistan Army, increasingly resembling that of terrorist organisations. Pakistan Army spokesperson Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry declared, in language eerily like Hafiz Saeed, 'If you block our water, we will choke your breath.' Such rhetoric suggests that the Pakistan Army may be adopting narratives crafted by terrorist outfits.
Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif is the son of Mahmood Sultan Bashiruddin, a notorious Pakistani scientist known for attempting to provide nuclear secrets to Osama bin Laden through the organisation Ummah Tameer-e-Nau. His important position raises further concerns about the ideological leanings within the military's senior leadership.
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif even claimed that Pakistan had avenged its 1971 defeat-an assertion that appears to cater to demands long made by terror outfits like Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, and Al-Badr. On May 11, while defending Pakistan's 'Operation Bunyanum Marsoos,' Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif described Munir as someone deeply committed to 'jihad.' Munir had received his early education in a madrasa. This has earned Munir the label of 'Jihadi General' among analysts.
Terrorists empowered, subservient civilian government
Munir's authority within Pakistan has grown unchecked. The civilian government, widely seen as subservient to the military, is incapable of restraining him. Under his leadership, the military has provided state funerals for senior terrorists, further strengthening the perception of an unholy alliance between the army and extremist groups.
Despite initial condemnation, the international community's response to recent escalations has been muted. Some global players continue to equate India and Pakistan, ignoring the stark contrast in their approaches to counterterrorism. Meanwhile, China actively supported Pakistan during the conflict, sharing intelligence on Indian airbases. Turkey reportedly supplied military equipment. Notably, former Pakistani Army officer Adil Raja alleged that Munir ordered the Pahalgam attack only after receiving approval from China.
Implications for India and regional stability
For India, the situation remains precarious. Munir is widely held responsible for orchestrating the Pahalgam attack. His 16th April speech, where he invoked the two-nation theory and expressed strong anti-Hindu sentiments, highlighted his ideological rigidity and intent to continue Pakistan's long-standing policy of 'bleeding India through a thousand cuts.'
Although some Pakistani analysts argue that economic decline and limited military capacity make a large-scale conflict with India unlikely, given Munir's radical views and close alignment with terrorist objectives, future provocations cannot be ruled out.
India must remain vigilant. Strengthening surveillance and early-warning systems to detect terrorist activity is essential. Pre-emptive countermeasures should be prioritized. India must also continue leveraging strategic tools such as the Indus Waters Treaty to pressure Pakistan until wanted terrorists are handed over.
Simultaneously, India must intensify diplomatic efforts to build a strong strategic narrative exposing the nexus between the Pakistan Army and terrorism. Sustained engagement with international stakeholders could generate pressure on Islamabad and create space for democratic forces within Pakistan to challenge military dominance.
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Views expressed above are the author's own.