Islamabad, November 16,2025: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir on Sunday reaffirmed that Pakistan would deliver a swift and decisive response to any act of aggression, saying the nation’s security forces stood ready to defend the country “with full strength”.
Speaking to an Urdu-language daily at a luncheon hosted in honour of Jordan’s King Abdullah II at the President’s House, the army chief attributed Pakistan’s resilience and recent military success to divine support.
Raising his finger towards the sky, he said: “I did not lead Pakistan to victory; Allah did. It is Allah’s special blessing that Pakistan’s enemy bit the dust in May. Pakistan’s Army is Allah’s Army — its soldiers fight in the name of Allah.”
Munir’s remarks referenced the May military confrontation between Pakistan and India, during which Pakistan said it shot down seven Indian fighter jets, including three Rafales. The military action came after what Islamabad described as India’s “unprovoked missile strikes” on May 5 and 6, which caused civilian and security forces’ casualties.
New Delhi claimed the strikes were in response to a terrorist attack on tourists in Pahalgam, Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), that killed 28 men — blaming Pakistan without presenting evidence. Pakistan has consistently rejected the allegation.
Islamabad responded with a large-scale retaliatory operation, “Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos,” targeting more than 20 Indian military sites across multiple regions. The escalation between the two nuclear-armed neighbours ended on May 10, following a ceasefire brokered by the United States.
Soon after the conflict, the federal government formally elevated Gen Munir to the rank of field marshal for what it called his leadership during the crisis.
Despite his strong messaging, Field Marshal Munir reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to regional peace. However, he stressed that the country would respond “with full force” to any future aggression, just as it did in May.
Quoting Quranic verses, he said Allah had promised believers victory over enemies regardless of their strength, adding, “Pakistan demonstrated this in May.”
As participants at the event congratulated him, Munir urged them instead to “pray for Pakistan’s progress”.
The field marshal’s comments come days after the federal government confirmed that his tenure would restart under his new appointment as Chief of Defence Forces (CDF).
During a National Assembly session on November 13, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar clarified that the CDF would serve a five-year term from the date of appointment. A recently passed amendment to the Pakistan Army Act states that the COAS — who concurrently serves as the CDF under Article 243 of the Constitution — will begin a fresh tenure upon notification of the new office.
