Munir was elevated to the highest Army rank for ‘exemplary role’ in recent conflict with India

Agencies Islamabad

Days after a major military escalation with India, Pakistan on Tuesday promoted Army chief General Asim Munir as Field Marshal for "successfully" leading the armed forces in the recent conflict, state-run TV reported. The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by PM Shehbaz Sharif. The state-run PTV reported that the decision was taken for Munir's "exemplary role" in the conflict with India.

Field marshal is the highest rank in the Pakistani Army. Before Munir, former Pakistan President Genral Ayub Khan had self elevated himself to the Field Marshal rank in 1959. Munir came out of shadows just before the Pahalgam terror attack when he dubbed Kashmir as the ‘jugular vein’ of Pakistan and just a day before the Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7, he declared, “Let there be no ambiguity. Any military misadventure by India will be met with a swift, resolute and notch-up response.”

Before being appointed to Pakistan army’s top post, Munir headed ISI when tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after the Pulwama suicide attack in February 2019 that resulted in the death of 40 CRPF personnel. Munir replaced General Qamar Javed Bajwa as the Chief of Army Staff in November, 2022. In November 2024, his tenure as Army chief was extended from three to five years.