Submitted by Asif Shahzad
Islamabad (Reuters) -Asim Munir, Chief of the Pakistan Army, is the most powerful person in the country, but his popular support has increased after the worst conflict with the Archy’s competing India, shaking criticism of politics and strictly fighting opponents.
A grateful government gave him a rare promotion to the outdoor marshal “recognizing strategic shine and bold leadership to ensure national security and a decisive enemy.”
The army ruled Pakistan for at least three decades since 1947. Independence and made an extraordinary influence even in the civilian government. However, this is also the head of her strict line that has rarely received a hint of love this month, which analysts say they strengthened the dominance of the military in the nuclear armed nation.
“Long live General Asim Munir!” In recent days, ads read in cities throughout Pakistan were held in high rallies. His picture was placed on lamp recordings and bridges when some headlines say, “You are our savior!”
A survey of the local interviewer Gallup Pakistan’s conflict found that 93% of respondents felt that their opinion about the army had improved.
Munir’s fiercest internal enemy, who imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan, also welcomed the army after this month’s clashes with India, which both nations claimed as a victory.
“It’s my country, it’s my army,” Khan said in a “X” post last week. “I honor the Pakistan Air Force and all our military personnel for their professionalism and great results.”
Yousuf Nazar, a political commentator, said about Munir: “He appeared as a Pakistani Strength, whose military reputation was restored as a great force.”
Six months after he took responsibility in 2022. In November, Munir faced the most serious challenge for the military hegemony when Khan’s supporters attacked and robbed military installations.
Later, Munir faced sharp internal criticism of Khan’s prison and his Pakistan’s Tehreek-E-In-Inseaf Party, as well as what critics said last year it was based on the general election to welcome the competitors’ party.
But the conflict with India turned this, said the author of Ayesha Siddiqa, Karini Inc, a book about Pakistani’s army.
“It has done the General stronger than any other previous generals. He is now a hero,” she said, adding that the competition among the neighbors will be the leader of two hard, Indian Hindu Nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistan Munir, a devout Muslim.
“This is the Islamist General compared to the religious strength,” she said.
The military did not answer the questions sent by Reuters.
The fundamental difference
The spark of the latest neighbors’ battles was April 22. Attack in India in Kashmir, where 26 people were killed, most of them tourists. The new Delhi accused the “terrorists” supported by Pakistan, denied by Islamabad.
May 7 The Indian army carried out air strikes, which it called “terrorist infrastructure” in Pakistan in response to the attack in Kashmir.
Pakistan said he reduced at least 5-6 Indian fighter jets and performed air strikes at Indian military bases. India stated that it suffered certain losses and caused significant damage to the main Pakistani air bases and air defense systems.
Munir, who remembered the Holy Muslim book “The Qur’an”, publicly emphasized what he said was the fundamental differences between Islam Pakistan and most Indian India.
“Our religion is different. Our customs are different. Our traditions are different,” he said in the speech in Islamabad a week before the attack in India’s cashmere.
He said the Indian army “with all of them, where he” intimidates “, could not” intimidate “Pakistan by submitting its comments with the Qur’an lines. “Pakistan must be a difficult state.”
According to the military, he called Pakistan’s confrontation against India “Bunyan Marsos”, which means an iron wall. It was started on May 10 to coincide with the prayers of Dawn, which were considered a favorable time for Muslims.
Munir, the son of a school teacher, is an infantry officer and a former head of powerful intelligence between services and military intelligence. He remains the army chief until 2027. November And could have been appointed for another five -year term at the time.
Husain Haqqani, a former Pakistan ambassador to the US, said that before the last conflict, Munir was more vanished in India than his predecessor as a army leader who followed a more pragmatic and less ideological approach to improve the relationship.
“Conflicts with India are reminiscent of Pakistanians about the fragility of their country and they gather in their army as a subject that will save the country,” Haqqani said.
“The recent power and standing up to India helped General Munir to strengthen his position in the country.”
(Message with Assive Shahzad