Islamabad (TDI): The federal government on Tuesday promoted Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir to the rank of field marshal.
The federal cabinet approved the promotion of Army Chief General Asim Munir for his leadership in Operation Bunyanum Marsoos and the period of conflict against India known as Marka-i-Haq.
The military standoff between Pakistan and India escalated following the Pahalgam attack. On the night of May 6-7, India carried out a series of air strikes in Punjab and Azad Kashmir, causing civilian casualties. In retaliation, Pakistan shot down five Indian fighter jets.
After downing drones deployed by New Delhi and tit-for-tat attacks on each other’s airbases, the US administration intervened on May 10, which led to a ceasefire.
The field marshal rank is the highest rank of militaries built on the patron of the British Armed Forces.
“The Government has approved the promotion of General Syed Asim Munir (Nishan-i-Imtiaz Military) 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-i-Haq and Operation Bunyanum Marsoos,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement after a federal cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
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Recalling the events of the military standoff between Pakistan and India, the statement further said that Army Chief Gen Asim Munir led the military “with exemplary courage and determination and coordinated the war strategy and efforts of the armed forces in a comprehensive manner”.
It added: “Thanks to the unparalleled leadership of the army chief, Pakistan achieved a historic victory in Marka-i-Haq.
“In recognition of his outstanding military leadership, courage, and bravery, ensuring Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and courageous defense against the enemy, the cabinet approved the prime minister’s proposal to promote General Syed Asim Munir to the rank of field marshal.”
The statement added that PM Shehbaz Sharif called on President Asif Ali Zardari to take him into confidence regarding this decision.
It said that the government also decided to continue the services of Air Chief Marshal Zahar Ahmed Babar Sidhu after his term ends.
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Moreover, it was decided that officers and soldiers of the Pakistan Army, war veterans, martyrs and citizens belonging to different walks of life would be honored with high government awards in recognition of their valuable services during the operation.
Accepting the honour, COAS Munir stated he was grateful to Allah Almighty for receiving the position, dedicating it to the whole nation, the armed forces of Pakistan, particularly the civil and military martyrs and veterans.
“I am grateful to the president of Pakistan, the prime minister and the cabinet for their trust,” he said in a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), adding that the honour was the trust of the nation, for which “millions of Asims have sacrificed themselves”.
“This is not an individual honour but an honour for the armed forces of Pakistan and the entire nation,” he said.
