Pakistan's Army chief Gen Asim Munir promoted to Field Marshal
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Islamabad: In an unprecedented move, the Pakistan Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, on Tuesday approved the promotion of Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir to the rank of Field Marshal. The decision comes in the wake of India's assertive Operation Sindoor, which targeted terrorist infrastructure deep inside Pakistan following the Pahalgam massacre.
According to Geo News, the government stated that the promotion was conferred in recognition of General Munir's "brilliant military leadership, bravery, and commitment to defending Pakistan's sovereignty and territorial integrity" during what it referred to as "Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos." The government credited Munir with ensuring the country's security and defeating the enemy through strategic acumen and courageous leadership.
At 57, General Munir becomes only the second five-star Field Marshal in Pakistan’s 78-year history. The only other officer to hold the rank was military ruler Ayub Khan, who self-promoted to the position in 1959 after taking power through a coup.
As General Munir expressed “gratitude to Allah” and dedicated the honour to the nation, the promotion triggered criticism and ridicule both within and outside Pakistan. It marked the first time in Pakistan’s history that a general has been elevated after a conflict widely perceived as a defeat. Critics across Pakistani media and military circles questioned the credibility of the move, suggesting it was more about internal political positioning than battlefield achievement.
Many analysts argue that Munir, operating within a de facto military state, orchestrated his own promotion to tighten his grip on power in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor. “Musharraf 2.0 loading!” a former Pakistani Army officer posted on social media, drawing a parallel between Munir and the late dictator Pervez Musharraf.
Observers also noted that Munir, like Ayub Khan, seems to underestimate Indian military capabilities—an assumption proven costly during the 1965 war for Ayub and again during the recent Operation Sindoor for Munir.
The Shehbaz Sharif-led cabinet also extended the tenure of Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu, recognising his leadership during the same conflict, Samaa News reported.
Meanwhile, India’s Operation Sindoor has been widely acknowledged as a strategic and military triumph. The operation, conducted in swift retaliation to the Pahalgam massacre, showcased India’s capacity to strike with precision, hitting terror camps, drone coordination hubs, and even airbases within Pakistan’s territory. Notably, Pakistan failed to breach any defended Indian area in response.
International military analysts have extensively evaluated Operation Sindoor, underscoring India’s dominance. Austrian military historian Tom Cooper labelled India’s air campaign as a "clear-cut victory," highlighting Pakistan's failure to execute an effective counter-strike and its apparent shortage of high-grade weaponry, including attack drones. He further noted that Pakistan initiated contact for a ceasefire after suffering severe losses and being unable to sustain the conflict.
John Spencer, Chair of Urban Warfare Studies at the Modern War Institute, praised India's approach as an exercise in "strategic restraint and assertiveness." He emphasised that Operation Sindoor redefined India’s red lines by treating cross-border terror attacks as acts of war. “India struck back harder, but stopped short of general war. That is textbook deterrence: calibrated, controlled, and credible,” Spencer stated. He described the operation as a “massive victory” for India, asserting that the Indian military exceeded its strategic objectives in just four days of decisive action.
While Pakistan attempts to project strength through symbolic military promotions, analysts across the globe agree that the real shift in power dynamics was established by India’s demonstrable military superiority during Operation Sindoor.
With IANS inputs