Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and newly appointed Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir has attributed Pakistan’s victory in the May conflict with India to divine support, declaring that the nation’s armed forces fight with faith and discipline.
Speaking to Daily Jang during a luncheon hosted in honour of Jordan’s King Abdullah II at the President’s House, Field Marshal Munir raised a finger toward the sky and said, “I did not lead Pakistan to victory; Allah did.”
He added that Pakistan’s success in the May confrontation was a “special blessing,” noting, “Pakistan’s Army is Allah’s Army; its soldiers fight in the name of Allah.”
The May clashes erupted after India launched missile strikes on the night of May 5 and 6, following a deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, which left 28 Indian tourists dead. New Delhi accused Pakistan of supporting the attack, an allegation Islamabad firmly rejected.
Pakistan retaliated with “Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos,” targeting over 20 Indian military sites across multiple regions. During the conflict, Pakistan reportedly downed seven Indian fighter jets, including three Rafale aircraft. The hostilities between the two nuclear-armed neighbours came to an end on May 10 under a ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States.
Soon after the conflict, the federal government promoted Munir to the rank of field marshal in recognition of his leadership.
During the interaction, Field Marshal Munir reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to peace but warned that any future act of aggression would be met with a swift and decisive response. Citing Quranic verses, he said that true believers can overcome any adversary with faith, asserting that Pakistan demonstrated this principle in May.
As attendees congratulated him, he urged them instead to pray for Pakistan’s progress and prosperity. He reiterated his resolve to fulfil his responsibilities “as commanded by Allah.”
His remarks come shortly after the government confirmed that his tenure had officially restarted with his appointment as the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF). According to Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, the CDF will serve a five-year term from the date of appointment under the amended Army Act recently passed by both houses of Parliament.
