Pakistan army chief Asim Munir promoted to field marshal, air chief Zaheer Ahmed Babar's tenure extended

The Print

20-05-2025

Asim Munir's promotion, approved unanimously by Pakistan's federal cabinet Tuesday, has been framed as a recognition of his 'exemplary courage and determination' in leading the Pakistan Army against India and for how he 'coordinated the war strategy and efforts of the armed forces in a comprehensive manner'.
In Pakistan, a field marshal is the highest military designation. Asim Munir's promotion makes him the second officer in the country's history to reach the rank. The last and only other Pakistani to hold the rank was General Ayub Khan, who elevated himself to the position in 1959, a year after he assumed the presidency following a military coup.
New Delhi: Days after a ceasefire post-Operation Sindoor, Pakistan has promoted Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir to the field marshal rank and extended the service tenure of Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu.
The move comes close on the heels of the 7 May Operation Sindoor, India's response to the deadly Pahalgam terror attack and another three days of armed hostilities across the Line of Control before the 10 May ceasefire.
The prime minister's office (PMO) formally announced the decision after Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif chaired a meeting of the cabinet.
'The government of Pakistan has approved the promotion of General Syed Asim Munir (Nishan-i-Imtiaz Military) to the rank of field marshal for ensuring the security of the country and defeating the enemy based on the high strategy and courageous leadership during Marka-i-Haq and Operation Bunyanum Marsoos,' the PMO statement said, according to Pakistani publication Dawn.
A ceremonial but symbolically powerful position modelled on British military tradition, the field-marshal rank carries considerable political and institutional weight in Pakistan, where the military remains the most powerful institution in the State.
Asim Munir's promotion will likely further solidify his influence in a country where the civilian authority has often turned subordinate to the military command.
His promotion and Zaheer Ahmed Babar's extended service tenure reflect the cabinet's broader endorsement of military leadership during conflict. Additionally, soldiers, veterans, and civilians involved in operations against India would receive State honours.
Once briefed about Asim Munir's promotion, President Asif Ali Zardari publicly endorsed the decision. 'Under General Syed Asim Munir's leadership, the armed forces have successfully defended the homeland.'
In a statement issued through the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), General Asim Munir has expressed his gratitude to the government and the nation. He dedicated the promotion to 'the entire nation, the armed forces of Pakistan, and especially the civil and military martyrs and veterans.' 'This honour is the trust of the nation, for which millions of Asims have sacrificed themselves,' he added.
Exceptional credentials have marked his rise. Asim Munir is the only Pakistani officer to have led the military intelligence and the ISI together. Graduating from top military institutions in Japan, Malaysia, and Pakistan, Munir holds an MPhil in strategic security. Uniquely, he is the first army chief in Pakistan to identify as a Hafiz-e-Quran in public, patching religious symbolism into his leadership.
Under his command, military rhetoric has shifted towards religious nationalism, with ISPR amplifying the themes of ideological purity. His declaration, 'Kashmir is our jugular vein', days before the Pahalgam attack, had stoked regional tensions.
General Asim Munir already has an outsized influence within his country. Earlier this year, Pakistan's Supreme Court cleared the way for civilians to be tried in military courts, reinforcing the military establishment's power, while democratic institutions have come under increasing pressure.
(Edited by Madhurita Goswami)
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