Rawalpindi, May 5, 2025: Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir has warned that any violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty or territorial integrity will be met with a decisive and forceful military response. The statement was issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) amid heightened regional tensions.
The warning follows a deadly attack last month in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), where 26 tourists were killed in Pahalgam on April 22. New Delhi has accused Islamabad of orchestrating the incident — a claim Pakistan has categorically rejected as baseless. The allegations have escalated tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, with both sides engaging in a series of diplomatic reprisals.
Islamabad has since stated it possesses “credible intelligence” indicating India’s intentions to launch military action, raising fears of a potential armed conflict.
Speaking to participants of the 15th National Workshop Balochistan at the General Headquarters (GHQ), Gen Munir reiterated Pakistan’s desire for regional peace, but made clear that national dignity and the safety of its people would be vigorously defended.
“Pakistan seeks peace in the region and beyond. However, if our sovereignty and territorial integrity are challenged, we will respond with full force to safeguard our national prestige and the wellbeing of our people,” he asserted.
Addressing the development landscape of Balochistan, the army chief reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving the province’s socioeconomic indicators. He stressed that ongoing and planned development projects are already delivering tangible benefits and should counter misleading narratives aimed at discrediting progress.
“Several initiatives are already yielding positive outcomes for the people of Balochistan,” he noted, appreciating the role of civil society in promoting awareness and youth engagement in the province.
Gen Munir identified foreign-sponsored terrorism as the most significant threat to Balochistan’s peace and progress, vowing that efforts to destabilize the province through violence and fear would be decisively thwarted.
“Terrorist groups misusing the Baloch identity to pursue their malicious agendas are a stain on the province’s honour and patriotism,” he said.
He reaffirmed that terrorism — which recognizes no religion, sect, or ethnicity — must be tackled through national unity and resolve. The armed forces and law enforcement agencies, he concluded, would continue their fight against terrorism with the unwavering support of the Pakistani people.
