Latest news with #FieldMarshal
Arab News
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Politicians see field marshal rank as affirmation of Pakistan army chief's influence, not a power shift
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani politicians and analysts have said that the country's top military commander Asim Munir's promotion to the field marshal rank, which followed Pakistan's recent standoff with India, would not further affect the political landscape as he already held 'great influence.' The Pakistani government elevated Army Chief Munir to the rank of field marshal on Tuesday, making him only the second military officer after Ayub Khan to attain the title in the history of the South Asian country. The promotion came more than a week after Pakistan declared victory in a four-day military conflict with India, which saw the archfoes trade missile, drone and artillery strikes, killing around 70 people on both sides. The office of the army chief is widely seen as the most powerful position in Pakistan, a country where the military has directly ruled for nearly half its history and wields considerable influence in matters of national significance even during civilian rule. 'It will, God willing, have no [further] impact on political space or Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI),' Sayed Zulfikar Bukhari, a spokesperson of jailed ex-prime minister Imran Khan-led PTI party, told Arab News this week. 'He already held all the influence.' Khan's PTI has been at loggerheads with the military since the downfall of its administration in 2022 and on May 9, 2023, hundreds of people carrying its flags had attacked government and military installations over the ex-premier's arrest in a graft case. The attacks followed hundreds of arrests and dozens of Khan supporters were even tried in military courts. The PTI denies it instigated its followers to violence and accuses the military and its political rivals of a nationwide crackdown on its supporters. The Pakistani government and the military deny the accusation. Bukhari called Munir's promotion an 'internal matter' of the army. 'It's generally an internal matter for the army as a result of a victory against India,' he said, adding that the entire nation celebrated that victory and ceasefire. 'We hope that with this promotion, an internal ceasefire is also reached.' For National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, who is also the vice president of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party, the promotion was not only a recognition of an individual's capability, but also an acknowledgment of the sacrifices and professional competence of the Pakistani armed forces. 'Field Marshal Munir thwarted the enemy's nefarious designs with great courage and strategy,' he said, adding the decision of his elevation would further boost the morale of the military and promote national unity. On Thursday, Pakistan's top political leadership conferred the baton of field marshal on Army Chief Munir at a ceremony in Islamabad. PM Shehbaz Sharif praised him for his 'unflinching courage' and the army for responding with speed and precision to Indian military strikes. The strikes were triggered by an attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that New Delhi blamed on Pakistan, an allegation denied by Islamabad. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Provincial Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, a senior leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), maintained the promotion of the army chief was a 'merit-based decision' by the government as he fully deserved it. 'This move has no political angle, neither has been done to harm anyone. So, all should appreciate it,' he told Arab News. Liaqat Baloch, a senior member of the Jamaat-e-Islami party, said it was the government's prerogative to make such promotions. 'I think now Field Marshal Munir should work for the supremacy of the constitution,' he said, adding it would further elevate his status among people. Baloch said the move would not have much impact on political parties, including the PTI or any other opposition group. Political analysts believed the promotion will further strengthen army chief's commanding position in the power structure of the country. 'Field Marshal Munir now holds a central and commanding position within the power structure, especially in light of the current weakness and disunity among civilian political leaders,' Mushahid Hussain Syed, a seasoned politician and political commentator, told Arab News. Even before the standoff with India, he said, all major political forces were already convinced of the establishment's central role in Pakistan's power dynamics. 'All the mainstream political forces are convinced that the path to Islamabad passes through Rawalpindi [home to army headquarters],' he added. But Ahmed Bilal Mehboob, president of the Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDAT), said the top military commander's promotion would not 'further shrink political space for the opposition,' including Khan's party. 'I do not think this promotion would lead to greater influence in the government affairs than he [Asim Munir] already has,' he added. Defense analyst and author, Ayesha Siddiqa, called the promotion a 'political decision' by the ruling PML-N party to 'appease' the most powerful individuals within the country. 'It is a political decision because the basis on which this title is given [the standoff with India] was not even an all-out war,' she told Arab News. 'This is possibly a move by the PML-N to ensure that the army chief stays happy and does not consider too seriously any major [rapprochement] vis-a-vis [the jailed former premier] Khan.'
Telegraph
22-05-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Starmer pays £10bn to surrender UK's vital defence to a honeymoon resort
Not only is Britain finished, we're running out of people to surrender it to. China got Hong Kong. The EU got our waters. But who gets our base at Diego Garcia? Mauritius. I'd love to explain that one to the ghost of Queen Victoria: 'The future of the Royal Navy, your majesty, is now in the hands of a honeymoon resort.' Vic isn't amused. I'm spitting blood. Like any patriotic Englishman, I'd gladly take a bullet to protect this essential and much-loved base in the Indian Ocean. Our day of infamy began with a ray of hope. Some Chagossians protested the deal in the High Court; the PM was briefly stopped by a judge (serves the lawyer right: if you live by m'lord, you'll die by m'lord). But the wheels of justice spun into reverse and, at about 3pm, Keir Starmer threw a press conference to announce the sale of the century. Mauritius gets the islands; we then pay them £10 billion to remain in situ. Keir was first made aware of this exciting offer via an unsolicited email from a man looking to invest the assets of a late Nigerian prince. To sweeten matters, the PM posed with a general who, in a better age, would be planning a coup behind his back. Field Marshal Sir Hillary Clippety-clop wore a braid so preposterously long and golden one imagined tugging it to open a curtain. The historian David Cannadine called such things 'the cavalcade of impotence': the more Britain diminishes, the more its rulers enjoy dressing up. Don't think this is a good deal for the UK? MI5 would be interested in having a chat. 'Who is in favour?', asked the PM rhetorically. 'All our allies. Who is against it? Russia, China, Iran and, surprisingly, the leader of the Opposition.' Keir didn't use her name because, according to the latest polls, the vast majority of voters wouldn't recognise it – but the implication was clear. Kemi is aiding our enemies. Well, the Tories weren't having that. During a fiery Commons statement, Opposition spokesman James Cartlidge called it 'beneath contempt' to accuse the Government's critics of treachery. He went on to label the deal a 'betrayal' and a 'surrender', and to rewrite Labour's theme tune as 'they'll keep the white flag flying here'. Minister John Healey, a much-pained politician whose every sentence sounds like his last, regretted 'the tone' of Cartlidge's remarks, which is what Labour does. Attacks on their policies are dismissed as populism; passion is evidence of mental decline. Were it not for parliamentary privilege, Cartlidge would have been carted off to jail. But the claim that the Government simply had to sign this deal because foreign courts demanded it does not hold water – and even Labour MPs were privately criticising it. Courts interpret; the Commons has the final say. No one forced Starmer's hand. We're simply witnessing the logical consequence of government by a class that is embarrassed by Britain's past greatness and would surrender its territory to anyone who puts in a dubious claim. Today Chagos; tomorrow Gibraltar and the Falklands. Vanuatu can have Cornwall. The sun had to set on Vicky's empire someday, but I never imagined we'd be paying someone £10 billion to lower the flag.
Arab News
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Pakistan presents baton of field marshal to its army chief after India standoff
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's top political leadership on Thursday conferred the baton of field marshal on army chief Syed Asim Munir at a ceremony in Islamabad, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praising him for his 'unflinching courage' during the recent military standoff with India. Munir was elevated to the five-star rank during a federal cabinet meeting earlier this week. The rank of field marshal is the highest military designation in Pakistan and has only been awarded once before to former President Ayub Khan. 'Today we have gathered here to pay our tribute to Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Chief of Army Staff, for his admirable leadership, unflinching courage and outstanding service to our motherland as we have just conferred upon him the most prestigious and revered military title of Field Marshal,' the prime minister said during the ceremony. 'His command during Operation Bunyanum Marsoos and his resolute courage in safeguarding Pakistan's sovereignty and territorial integrity not only thwarted the nefarious designs of the adversary but rewrote the history of warfare that shall continue to inspire generations to come,' he added. Sharif credited Munir with leading Pakistan's armed forces to what he described as an 'outstanding victory' against an enemy 'caught in its own web of arrogance and hubris.' Referring to Pakistan's military retaliation earlier this month after Indian strikes, Sharif said the army responded with speed and precision, pushing the conflict deep into enemy territory. 'In the annals of regional conflict and diplomacy, what transpired during those challenging days will not only be remembered as an outstanding military victory but also as a moral and diplomatic triumph,' Sharif said. He also highlighted the close coordination between Pakistan's political and military leadership in confronting the twin challenges of economic instability and foreign-backed terrorism, calling the synergy 'unprecedented.' 'Today I join the entire nation in acknowledging the meritorious services of a son of the soil who embodies the finest traditions of the Pakistan Army and whose services shall remain etched in the annals of our national history,' he added.
South China Morning Post
21-05-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Rise of Pakistan's General Munir amid India conflict reshapes military politics: ‘a hero now'
Pakistan 's army chief General Asim Munir is the most powerful man in the country, but his popular support has surged after the worst conflict in decades with arch-rival India , shattering criticism of interference in politics and harshly cracking down on opponents. A grateful government gave him a rare promotion to Field Marshal 'in recognition of the strategic brilliance and courageous leadership that ensured national security and decisively defeated the enemy'. The military has ruled Pakistan for at least three decades since independence in 1947 and wielded extraordinary influence even with a civilian government in office. But it, and its hardline chief, have rarely received the widespread outpouring of affection seen this month that analysts say has reinforced the military's dominance in the nuclear-armed nation. 'Long live General Asim Munir!' read placards held aloft in rallies in recent days in towns across Pakistan. His picture was put up on lamp posts and bridges, with some banners saying: 'You are our saviour!' A survey conducted after the conflict by Gallup Pakistan, a local pollster, found that 93 per cent of respondents felt their opinion of the military had improved. Munir's most bitter domestic foe, jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan, also congratulated the military after this month's clashes with India, claimed by both nations as a victory.
Reuters
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Beloved strongman: Support for Pakistan army chief surges after India conflict
ISLAMABAD, May 21 (Reuters) - Pakistan's army chief General Asim Munir is the most powerful man in the country, but his popular support has surged after the worst conflict in decades with arch-rival India, shattering criticism of interference in politics and harshly cracking down on opponents. A grateful government has given him a rare promotion to Field Marshal "in recognition of the strategic brilliance and courageous leadership that ensured national security and decisively defeated the enemy". The military has ruled Pakistan for at least three decades since independence in 1947 and wielded extraordinary influence even with a civilian government in office. But it, and its hardline chief, have rarely received the widespread outpouring of affection seen this month that analysts say has reinforced the military's dominance in the nuclear-armed nation. "Long live General Asim Munir!" read placards held aloft in rallies in recent days in towns across Pakistan. His picture was put up on lamp posts and bridges, with some banners saying: "You are our saviour!" A survey conducted after the conflict by Gallup Pakistan, a local pollster, found that 93% of respondents felt their opinion of the military had improved. Munir's most bitter domestic foe, jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan, also congratulated the military after this month's clashes with India, claimed by both nations as a victory. "It's my country, it's my army," Khan said in a post on X last week. "I pay tribute to the Pakistan Air Force and all our military personnel for their professionalism and outstanding performance." Yousuf Nazar, a political commentator, said of Munir: . "He has emerged as Pakistan's strongman with his military's reputation restored as a formidable force." Six months after he took charge in November 2022, Munir was faced with the most serious challenge to the military's hegemony when Khan's supporters attacked and ransacked military installations. Munir later faced sharp domestic criticism for the jailing of Khan and cracking down on supporters of his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, as well as what critics alleged was rigging the general election last year to favour a rival party. But the conflict with India has turned that around, said Ayesha Siddiqa, author of Military Inc, a book on the Pakistan military. "It has made the general stronger than any other previous generals. He is a hero now," she said, adding that the contest between the neighbours will be headed by two hardliners, India's Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistan's Munir, a devout Muslim. "It's an Islamist general versus a religious strongman," she said. The military did not respond to questions sent by Reuters. The spark for the latest fighting between the neighbours was an April 22 attack in Indian Kashmir that killed 26 people, most of them tourists. New Delhi blamed the incident on "terrorists" backed by Pakistan, a charge denied by Islamabad. On May 7, the Indian military carried out air strikes on what it called "terrorist infrastructure" in Pakistan, in response to the attack in Kashmir. Pakistan claimed to have downed at least 5-6 Indian fighter jets and carried out air strikes on Indian military bases. India has indicated that it suffered some losses and inflicted major damage on key Pakistani air bases and air defence systems. Munir, who has memorised the Muslim holy book, the Koran, has publicly underlined what he has said are fundamental differences between Islamic Pakistan and predominantly Hindu India. "Our religion is different. Our customs are different. Our traditions are different," he said in a speech in Islamabad a week before the attack in Indian Kashmir. The Indian army "with all their wherewithal" cannot "intimidate" Pakistan, he said, peppering his comments with verses from the Koran. "Pakistan needs to be a hard state." Pakistan's counter-strike against India was named by him as "Bunyan Marsoos", after a Koranic verse, which means Iron Wall, according to the military. It was launched on May 10 to coincide with dawn prayers, considered an auspicious time for Muslims. Munir, the son of a schoolteacher, is an infantry officer and a former head of both the powerful Inter-Services Intelligence and Military Intelligence. He remains army chief until November 2027 and could be appointed for another five-year term at that point. Husain Haqqani, a former Pakistani ambassador to the United States, said that even before the latest conflict, Munir was more hawkish on India than his predecessor as army chief, who had taken a more pragmatic and less ideological approach, seeking to improve relations. "Conflicts with India remind Pakistanis of the fragility of their country and they rally to their army as the entity that will save the country," said Haqqani. "The recent show of strength and standing up to India has helped General Munir solidify his position within the country."
