Rawalpindi, June 27, 2025: Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Chief of Army Staff (COAS), has labelled India as the “largest state sponsor of terrorism” in the region, urging neighbouring countries to stay vigilant against Indian-backed proxy networks.
Speaking to officers of the 52nd Common Training Programme on Friday, the army chief reiterated Pakistan’s aspiration for peaceful and friendly relations with Afghanistan, a fellow Islamic nation, but stressed the expectation that Afghan soil must not be used by Indian proxies such as Fitna al-Hindustan and Fitna al-Khawarij.
“India is the biggest sponsor of terrorism in this region,” he asserted. “Pakistan has never bowed before India, and it never will.”
Field Marshal Munir said India’s terrorism issue was largely internal, rooted in its systemic discrimination and violence against its minorities, particularly Muslims.
Highlighting the country’s defence posture, the COAS assured that Pakistan’s armed forces remain fully prepared to meet the evolving demands of modern warfare. He credited Pakistan’s strong and coordinated military response during Ma’rakah-e-Haq — from the Line of Control to the coastline — as a firm and legitimate reply to India’s unprovoked aggression.
Referring to the intense cross-border conflict last month, he noted it as the worst fighting in decades. The escalation followed an April 22 attack in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir that killed 26 individuals. India blamed Pakistan-based militants for the assault — a charge Islamabad has categorically denied.
India then launched a series of unprovoked strikes on Pakistan, resulting in the martyrdom of over 50 individuals, including security personnel. In retaliation, Pakistan downed several Indian aircraft and targeted military installations across the border.
The United States subsequently intervened diplomatically to help de-escalate tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
Field Marshal Munir described Pakistan’s firm response as one blessed by divine support: “Allah was with us because we stood for the truth.”
The army chief also underscored the importance of cohesion among all state institutions, calling the administration and civil bureaucracy the bedrock of national harmony. He urged officers to strengthen institutional values through courage, competence, and, most importantly, character.
“Every system has flaws,” he noted, “but your responsibility is to ensure that negative forces and weaknesses do not overwhelm it.”
He further stressed that love and loyalty to the nation must remain the guiding principle, and that progress demands a strong bond between the public, the government, and the armed forces.
Calling for a renewed sense of Pakistaniyat, COAS Munir encouraged civil servants to rise above ethnic and regional identities, warning that nations that forget their history ultimately lose their future.
