New Delhi: The Pakistan government on Tuesday promoted army chief General Asim Munir to the rank of field marshal for his role in the recent hostilities with India, marking only the second time in the country’s history that a military official has been elevated to the status.
The decision was announced following a meeting of the cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who congratulated the nation on the success of Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos, Pakistan’s response to India’s Operation Sindoor, which was launched on May 7 to target terrorist infrastructure at nine locations.
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Munir is the first Pakistani military officer to hold the rank since 1959, when Ayub Khan, the country’s first military dictator, declared himself a field marshal. The promotion is expected to enhance Munir’s grip on power, with the military already playing a decisive role in shaping foreign and security policies.
“The government of Pakistan has approved the promotion of Gen Syed Asim Munir 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-e-Haq and Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement in Urdu.
{{/usCountry}}“The government of Pakistan has approved the promotion of Gen Syed Asim Munir 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-e-Haq and Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement in Urdu.
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The statement said Munir led the Pakistan Army with “exemplary courage and determination” and “fully coordinated the war strategy and efforts of the armed forces”. The cabinet approved Sharif’s proposal to promote Munir in recognition of his “military leadership, courage and bravery, ensuring Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and the courageous defence against the enemy”, it said.
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Munir was appointed the army chief in November 2022, just three days before he was set to retire, and was slated to have a three-year tenure. However, the government extended his term to five years in 2024 and he is now expected to serve till November 2027.
A statement issued by the Pakistani military’s media arm quoted Munir as saying that he dedicated the honour to the armed forces. Munir also thanked the president, the prime minister and the cabinet for their trust in him.
Sharif met President Asif Ali Zardari and took him into confidence regarding the decision to promote Munir. A statement from the presidency quoted Zardari as saying: “Under Gen Syed Asim Munir’s leadership, the armed forces have successfully defended the homeland.” He said Munir deserved the promotion for defending Pakistan.
India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting terrorist infrastructure at nine locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack of April 22 that killed 26 civilians. This triggered four days of intense strikes and counter-strikes, with both sides using drones, missiles and other long-range weapons and raising fears of an all-out war. The two sides reached an understanding on halting firing and military actions on May 10.