The Real Reason Behind Pak Army Chief Munir's Anti-India Speech: Exclusive From Imran Aide & Junoon Member
'Asim Munir wants to take control of Pakistan before November 2025 to save himself from a US bill,' says Dr Salman Ahmad, a member of Junoon and an aide of former PM Imran Khan
Dr Salman Ahmad, a member of Junoon band and a close aide of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) leader and former PM Imran Khan, in an exclusive interview with News18, explained the motive behind their Army chief Asim Munir's actions.
'Munir wants to eliminate Imran Khan. His speech before the diaspora was unwarranted. He spoke about sectarian division, like the British army wanted to divide and rule," said Ahmad.
Addressing the Overseas Pakistanis Convention in Islamabad last month, just before the Pahalgam attack, Munir said, 'Our forefathers thought we are different from Hindus in every aspect…Our religion is different, our customs are different, our traditions are different, our thoughts are different, our ambitions are different, that's where the foundation of the two-nation theory was laid. We are two nations, we are not one nation."
He also repeatedly termed Kashmir Pakistan's 'jugular vein". He added that Pakistan will not forget this and expressed solidarity with the 'struggle" of the region.
He urged Pakistanis to teach their children a narrative of religious and cultural superiority. Munir also vowed to crack down on terrorists in Balochistan and termed it the 'destiny of Pakistan", stating that 'even ten generations of terrorists cannot harm Balochistan and Pakistan".
'ASIM MUNIR TRYING TO PROTECT HIMSELF'
The Pakistan Democracy Act introduced in US Parliament has recommended sanctions against Asim Munir for visa restrictions and asset freeze, said Ahmad. 'Munir wants to take control of Pakistan before November 2025 to save himself from this bill," Ahmad said, adding, 'Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif is a puppet in the hands of Munir and his employees."
WHAT NEXT FOR IMRAN KHAN?
The Khan camp feels a campaign of terror will be launched against Khan soon. 'This campaign will also target Khan's supporters…In the coming days, incidents of violence, murder, physical torture and kidnapping will increase…These attacks will happen to silence those who bravely raise their voices against the injustices of Munir. Maryam Nawaz Sharif and their family have spoken in favour of the real Prime Minister Imran Khan," he said.
Ahmad said that during the three-and-a-half years in power, Khan wanted military to be in barracks, just like India. 'But in 78 years, Pakistan has been taken over by a military cartel, from Yahya Khan to Pervez Musharraf to Munir. They controlled everything — economy, foreign policy and media and even control. But the Army doesn't understand civil matters."
WHAT INTEL SOURCES SAY
According to intelligence sources, Munir is desperate after a misadventure on India. 'Munir wants internal crises to handle backlash after Pahalgam. He also wants to control Khan. He is worried about his future because America is adamant to clear the bill on Pakistan democracy. He wants to capture Pakistan before that," they said.
First Published:
May 04, 2025, 14:34 IST
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
3 minutes ago
- Time of India
After Jhansi ki Rani, another queen fought the British
Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Start of Rani Gaidinliu's journey Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Rise of Gaidinliu and her capture Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads 'Rani' and the Road to Freedom After Independence: A lonely struggle While everyone knows about Jhansi ki Rani Laxmibai, who fought with British forces in the battlefield, sword in hand and fire in her eyes, very few know about another Indian queen who too fought the British. Far from the spotlight, a 'rani' from the misty hills of the North East rallied her people, challenged the Crown's might, and ignited a centuries, powerful dynasties in India's Northeast stood as unyielding guardians, keeping at bay wave after wave of invaders -- from the Delhi Sultanate to the mighty Mughals, and even the early British. But that long-standing shield finally cracked when Burma stormed in, seizing control of Assam and Manipur. What followed was a brutal clash of empires -- a high-stakes power struggle between the Burmese and the British. The British, relentless in their imperial ambitions, ultimately crushed Burma after a series of bloody confrontations known as the Anglo-Burmese Wars, changing the fate of the region annexation of the Ahom kingdom by the East India Company in the early decades of the nineteenth century has loomed large as an important moment in the establishment of the British Raj in Assam. The Treaty of Yandabo (1826) gave the British East India Company an opportunity to establish its commercial and political interests in the frontier region of India. Amid the waves of the Civil Disobedience Movement and rising resistance across India, a fiery seventeen-year-old from the Northeast was quietly shaking the foundations of the British Raj. Leading a defiant tribal uprising, Rani Gaidinliu , a Naga, played a key role in the Indian freedom Gaidinliu's journey began when her cousin and spiritual mentor, Jadonang, claimed to have seen a divine vision from a revered god of the hills. The message was powerful: revive the ancient faith of their ancestors and resist the soon found himself surrounded by tribal communities desperate for hope amid fears of crop failure. His growing spiritual authority and anti-colonial message quickly caught the attention of British authorities by 1927 who arranged for a meeting with him, which also led to brief arrest of the Naga leader. As his influence grew strong, inspired by Mahatma Gandhi's Civil Disobedience Movement, he urged his followers to withhold British taxes and instead pay him, positioning himself as a liberator of the Nagas. But in February 1931, with whispers of rebellion in the air, the British arrested him on flimsy grounds. Failing to produce solid evidence, they falsely accused him of murdering Manipuri traders and hanged him publicly at the banks of the Nambul River in his death, Nagas hoped that another messiah would rise to lead them. The prophecy came true sooner than expected -- this time in the form of a seventeen-year-old girl, the British had met her during Jadonang's arrest and dismissed her as a 'sullen little unmarried girl of seventeen,' clearly underestimating her potential. However, this mere dismissal soon turned to be a grave mistake for the colonisers in the North East. With the followers of Jadonang regarding her as a goddess figure, Gaidinliu's revived spiritual movement had spread like wildfire across the Naga Hills, Manipur and the North Cachar Hills. Mirroring Gandhi's defiance, she urged her people to stop paying house taxes and reject British authority. However, with her growing influence, the British were on alert, launching an all-out operation under the Deputy Commissioner of the Naga Hills. Just like Jadonang's arrest, they resurrected an old case -- accusing Gaidinliu of murder, human sacrifice and cult arrest, Gaidinliu moved like a shadow across villages with her militia. Her bottled healing potion, famously called "Gaidinliu water," became a symbol of hope and February 16, 1932, a brutal clash erupted in Hangrum village. Assam Rifles stormed the area, killing villagers, burning homes, destroying granaries, and torching fields. A month later, another fierce encounter near Hangrum left heavy casualties. But once again, Gaidinliu slipped away. Frustrated by repeated failures to capture the teenage rebel, the British unleashed brutal retaliation, torching entire villages, destroying crops and torturing innocent villagers for information. Even Gaidinliu's native village, Lungkao, was not spared from this mid-1932, 29 guns were confiscated and Rs 2,920 collected in fines. British patrols tightened their grip, cutting off village communication and movement. Her name became a threat. The colonisers went so far as to harass girls who shared Gaidinliu's name, pushing many to abandon it out of fear. Even Gaidinliu herself adopted the alias 'Dilenliu' to stay hidden from British the flame of resistance flickered on. Her story echoed through whispered prayers, rebel songs and the dreams of a free Naga nearly five months, Gaidinliu and her band of rebels roamed the jungles of the trans-Barak basin, moving camp constantly. Disguised, she even visited her own village. Eventually, she chose Pulomi village as her base. Nestled between Zemi, Rongmei and Liangmei Naga tribes, her strongest support, Pulomi offered hope. But the village was also home to Christianised Nagas who had turned away from tribal prophecies and aligned with British colonialism. Converted by American Baptist missionaries and educated in mission schools, many now served the these loyalists was Dr. Haralu, a well-educated physician from the Liangmai tribe and native of Pulomi. An ardent supporter of British rule and an ideological critique of Gaidinliu's movement, he volunteered to help track her down. Ironically, his own younger brother, Jinyi, was one of Gaidinliu's closest a desperate bid to tame the fiery rebel, the British turned to a subtler tactic -- marriage. They persuaded Haralu, a well-regarded bachelor, to propose to Gaidinliu, dangling the promise of freedom if she gave up rebellion for domesticity. But Gaidinliu saw through the ruse and she vanished into the forest once more. However, Haralu continued writing to her, promising a personal meeting, but she never let herself be caught between love and she stayed at Pulomi longer than usual, awaiting his arrival, it proved to be a fatal error. Haralu came, not with love, but with armed forces. Though Gaidinliu had begun fortifying Pulomi, the defenses were incomplete. A British spy and village elder, Ishejungbe, had earned her trust, only to betray her. He leaked plans for a final attack to Haralu, who coordinated with the avoid detection, the army misled villagers about their destination. On October 16, 1932, a hundred riflemen marched for Pulomi, while another force of Nagas, Kukis and Gorkhas prepared for backup. They regrouped at Dzulki and surrounded Pulomi before dawn. After capturing a few guards, they learned she was hiding in Hailung's was arrested and brought to trial, not for rebellion, but on similar charges that targeted her sibling, murdering four Meitei traders at Kambiron. She was sentenced to life imprisonment. Initially locked in Imphal jail, she was later transferred to Shillong and Lushai Hills. The British kept moving her from place to place, fearful of the legend that she would return in another form to continue her in prison, her myth lived on. Rumours of her reincarnation sparked minor uprisings led by those claiming to be her avatars and continued until the outbreak of World War 1937, five years into her imprisonment, a turning point arrived. Jawaharlal Nehru, then President of the Indian National Congress, visited Assam for an entirely different reason. But wherever he went, he kept hearing one name, Gaidinliu. Intrigued, he visited her in Shillong was so moved by her courage and unwavering belief in her cause that he pledged to fight for her release. In a powerful article for the Hindustan Times in December 1937, he christened her 'Rani'. The name stuck — and so did her would take another decade and countless appeals, but when India finally gained independence in 1947, one of the first acts of Prime Minister Nehru was to sanction Rani Gaidinliu's freedom came with fresh battles. Two political forces had emerged in the region — the extremist Naga National Council (NNC), which wanted a separate country, and the moderate Naga Peoples' Convention (NPC), which called for a Union supported her Gaidinliu envisioned a separate administrative unit for the Zeliangrong people within India. But her dream clashed with geography, it would mean redrawing boundaries across Nagaland, Manipur and Assam. Her vision conflicted with the agendas of both NNC, NPC as well as the Indian these tensions, Gaidinliu remained a respected figure. She was honoured with the Tamrapatra (1972), Padma Bhushan (1982), Vivekananda Sewa Summan (1983), and the Bhagwan Birsa Munda Puraskar posthumously in her memory, India issued a commemorative stamp in 1996. On her birth centenary in 2015, commemorative coins were released, and in 2016, the Indian Coast Guard commissioned the 'ICGS Rani Gaidinliu'. A museum named the Rani Gaidinliu Tribal Freedom Fighters Museum has also been sanctioned at her birthplace in Manipur.
News18
29 minutes ago
- News18
After Aggressive War Rhetoric, Pakistan Urges India To Resume Indus Waters Treaty
The appeal comes in the wake of a nuclear strike warning from Pakistan's Army chief, Asim Munir, and aggressive remarks by former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto. Heightened tensions and nuclear rhetoric from top Pakistani leaders have been followed by Islamabad urging New Delhi to restore the full operation of the Indus Waters Treaty — a pact India has kept suspended since May after the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam. Pakistan's Foreign Office reiterated its commitment to full enforcement of the treaty and welcomed the latest interpretation issued by the Court of Arbitration. The appeal comes in the wake of a nuclear strike warning from Pakistan's Army chief, Asim Munir, and aggressive remarks by former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari over India's position on the water-sharing agreement. Pakistan's Request To India Pakistan said it welcomed the Award rendered by the Court of Arbitration on August 8, 2025, concerning the general interpretation of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), an award made public on the court's website. The ruling clarifies the design criteria for new run-of-river hydropower projects to be built by India on the Western Rivers — Chenab, Jhelum, and Indus. In a key finding, the Court directed that India must 'let flow" the waters of the Western Rivers for Pakistan's unrestricted use. It further said that exceptions for hydroelectric generation must strictly adhere to treaty requirements, rather than India's interpretation of 'ideal" or 'best practices." Pakistan reiterated that it remains committed to the full implementation of the Indus Waters Treaty and urged India to immediately resume normal treaty operations in line with the Court of Arbitration's award. India's Stand On 'Illegal' Court Of Arbitration India has never accepted the legal validity of the so-called Court of Arbitration, maintaining from the outset that the formation of this arbitral body itself constitutes a grave violation of the Indus Waters Treaty. As a result, India holds that any proceedings conducted by this forum, and any award or ruling it issues, are unlawful and inherently null and void. In the aftermath of the Pahalgam terrorist attack, India, acting within its sovereign rights under international law, suspended the Indus Waters Treaty until Pakistan credibly and irreversibly renounces its support for cross-border terrorism. For as long as the treaty remains in suspension, India is under no obligation to fulfil any of its commitments under it. Moreover, no Court of Arbitration — especially one that India considers illegally constituted and devoid of legal standing — has the authority to assess the legitimacy of India's actions undertaken in the exercise of its sovereign rights. view comments First Published: August 12, 2025, 14:02 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
News18
34 minutes ago
- News18
Deepfake Alert: Govt Flags Altered Video Of Army Chief, Dismisses Claims About Op Sindoor
Last Updated: A deepfake video falsely showing General Dwivedi claiming India lost jets and soldiers in a war against Pakistan is circulating online. The Indian govt confirmed the video is fake. Days after Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi addressed a gathering at IIT Madras, a deepfake video of his speech is doing rounds on the social media. The AI-generated deepfake video falsely portrays General Dwivedi claiming, 'We have already lost 6 jets and 250 soldiers" in the war against Pakistan. The Indian government on Tuesday issued a public alert regarding the digitally altered video, saying, 'The video has been artificially altered using AI technology." Press Information Bureau's fact check unit confirmed that the video is a deepfake — an AI-generated manipulation designed to spread misinformation and create confusion. 🚨 DEEPFAKE ALERT!A digitally altered video is circulating online, falsely showing the Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi admitting that India lost 6 jets and 250 soldiers in the war against Pakistan. #PIBFactCheck ✅ This is an AI-generated deepfake video. ✅ The… — PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) August 12, 2025 Taking to X, the PIB Fact Check wrote, 'DEEPFAKE ALERT! A digitally altered video is circulating online, falsely showing the Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi admitting that India lost 6 jets and 250 soldiers in the war against Pakistan.(sic)." The bureau categorically denied the authenticity of the video and urged the public not to fall for such manipulated content. In the post, it also attached the clip of the fake as well as original video for netizens. The post on X further mentioned that the Indian Army Chief has not made any such statement. 'This is an AI-generated deepfake video. The Indian Army Chief has made NO such statement.(sic)," the post further read. The fact check unit also shared the link of the Army Chief's original speech. General Dwivedi addressed a gathering at IIT Madras on August 4 during the inauguration of the Indian Army Research Cell. During the event, he said India's next war could be closer than we think and it won't be fought by soldiers alone. He also warned that technology, civil readiness and public participation will be as decisive as military might. 'The next war which we are looking at, it may happen soon. We have to prepare accordingly, and this time we will have to fight this battle together," General Dwivedi said. Earlier in May, India had launched strikes against Pakistan, in response to Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives on April 22. The operation was named Operation Sindoor. What Is A Deepfake? Deepfake videos are fake videos made using artificial intelligence (AI). They use advanced technology to change someone's face or voice in a way that looks and sounds very real. While they are sometimes used for fun or art, more and more people are using them to spread lies and trick others. view comments First Published: August 12, 2025, 13:52 IST News india Deepfake Alert: Govt Flags Altered Video Of Army Chief, Dismisses Claims About Op Sindoor Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
