Although Asim Munir’s hold on power perhaps appear strong, it is nothing short of unbreakable.
General Asim Munir, the head of Pakistan’s effective army, has been elevated to the eminently rare field-martial status in a move that is more symbolic than substantive. The government of prime minister Shehbaz Sharif made the announcement on Tuesday, marking the first such campaign in more than 60 years. Just one other person, military dictator Ayub Khan, has held the title since 1959. Munir’s ascent comes on the feet of a martial blunder, in contrast to Ayub, who awarded himself the position as part of renunciation of his social position. At least nine Muslim air bases were struck by India as a result of a tense change with them following a deadly assault in Pahalgam. Despite being publicly ignored in Pakistan, the damage left Munir diplomatically exposed. So why the development, exactly? And why now? Protection or development?
- Actually, the action is being portrayed as a reputation of” corporate genius.” PM Sharif praised Munir for his “decisive battle of the enemy,” claiming that the government had consistently defended Pakistan’s sovereignty under his management. The promotion was deemed” an honor for the military forces and the state,” according to Munir.
- But it is not widely accepted outside Pakistan’s firmly controlled internet environment.
- A veteran Pakistani observer, Tilak Devasher, reported to the Economic Times that “field Marshal rate is typically conferred upon a military victory.” This may be the first period it has been given after a battle; it appears to be done to hide that fight.
- It’s difficult to ignore the schedule. Pakistan’s populace is still reeling from the impact of the India attacks, and domestic dissention within the military is officially rising.
- Munir was accused of corruption and military incompetence in a widely circulated letter from a group called” The Guardians of Honour.” The text reflects the growing but unrequited dismay of senior ranks, according to some experts.
A shield against scrutinyIn a country where generals often enjoy impunity, the Field Marshal title may serve more as legal and political armor than as a mark of distinction. Some analysts see the promotion as a pre-emptive move to insulate Munir from possible court martial or early retirement, the ET report said.Legal experts point out that the Pakistani constitution makes no mention of the rank. Nor does the Pakistan Army Act. Instead, the promotion was reportedly made under Rule 199A of the Army Regulations (1998), which states that a general may be promoted to Field Marshal “without regard to seniority or any specific appointment.”In essence, the move raises Munir above the military’s existing command structure-and, potentially, above accountability.All ceremony, no strategyThough technically ceremonial, the rank carries potent political meaning. In Pakistan’s civil-military power dynamic, optics often matter more than operational command.“Munir is now very much in the driving seat as the pivot of the power structure,” said Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed, former chair of the Senate defense committee. “Given the weakness and divisions amongst the civilian politicians… all the mainstream political forces were convinced that the road to Islamabad lies through Rawalpindi.”That reality is reflected in the government’s simultaneous decision to extend the term of air chief marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu-his second extension. Sidhu was credited with executing Operation Bunyanun Marsoos, Pakistan’s retaliatory air campaign against India’s Operation Sindoor. Still, in a tightly managed information environment, the military’s version of events prevails. State media declared a historic victory. Social media was flooded with hashtags like #PakistanStandsUnited. Meanwhile, dissenting voices-journalists, analysts, even former officers-vanished from screens.The big picture: The war at home
- Munir’s rise comes at a delicate time for Pakistan. The India-India ceasefire has only been in effect for the moment. However, beneath the diplomatic calm is a volatile domestic environment:
- Security turbulence: Almost 3, 900 lives have been claimed by over 3, 700 terrorist attacks in the past 17 months, according to ISPR figures, indicating a deteriorating state of internal security, particularly in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
- Political unrest: Imran Khan’s imprisonment and the arrest of PTI supporters have fueled an undercurrent of defiance. Munir is accused of leveraging the Pahalgam terror incident to bolster his position of power by critics.
- Pakistan’s economy is teetering on the edge as a result of rising inflation, IMF-dependence, and India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty. The military’s expanding political influence is being investigated for aggravated instability.
- Observers point out that Munir is navigating a labyrinth of domestic flaws that could undermine his authority. He is not merely defending national borders.
- Criticism of his use of the two-nation theory and religious rhetoric to explain the India conflict portrayed him as an attempt to unite the people behind him. However, the plan may have failed. In a joint commentary in the TOI, Ashok Behuria and Uttam Sinha write that” the gambit drew attention to Pakistan’s widening fractures” in a joint statement.
The ghost of Imran KhanMunir’s political calculus also includes a rising challenge from behind bars: Former Prime Minister Imran Khan. His PTI party has labeled Munir a “warmonger and coward,” accusing him of dragging Pakistan into war to consolidate power. Khan’s moral authority, paradoxically strengthened by his imprisonment, continues to mobilize his base.Sharif’s civilian government, already seen as beholden to the military, risks further erosion of legitimacy. As one viral meme put it: “War fought by Airforce. Army Chief promoted. Army’s only contribution-taking videos of tanks and hiding in bunkers.”What’s next
- Munir’s promotion to Field Marshal is not a military development; it is about political survival. It involves stabilizing a fracturing command structure, muffling dissention, and projecting strength in the face of growing weakness.
- Although Munir’s position may be temporarily strengthened by the promotion, it still poses challenges for Munir:
- Internal threats continue to exist, from Baloch separatists to Pakistan’s resurgent Tehreek-e-Taliban.
- Khan’s moral leverage is growing even after serving in prison, which means PTI’s political comeback is looming.
- Civil-military tension may grow, especially if the rank is seen as an attempt to silence dissension or obstruct institutional restraints.
- There is also talk of Munir eventually stepping into a political position, possibly even as president. The example was set by Ayub Khan. Few people would be surprised if history resounds in Pakistan’s fragile democracy.
( With input from organizations )
