Asim Munir (general)

Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir Ahmed Shah (born 1968)Power, John (7 May 2025).
How Pakistan's most powerful man provoked India's missile attack
. ''The Spectator''. Retrieved 10 May 2025. "Born in Rawalpindi in 1968 (...)" is a Pakistani military officer who is currently serving as the 11th Chief of the Army Staff of the Pakistan Army since 2022. Prior to becoming the army chief, he was posted at the GHQ as Quartermaster general.

He commanded the XXX Corps in Gujranwala from 17 June 2019 to 6 October 2021. He served as the 28th Director-General of the ISI until he was replaced by lieutenant general Faiz Hameed on 16 June 2019. Munir received the Sword of Honour for his performance as a cadet in the Officers Training School (OTS), Mangla. On 20 May 2025, Munir was promoted to Field Marshal, becoming the second to reach the rank in Pakistan's history after Ayub Khan and only person to serve office of the Chief of Army Staff with Field Marshal rank. The rank of Field Marshal, a prestigious five-star title, sits above that of General.

Early life and education

Munir was born in Rawalpindi, Pakistan in 1968 into a Punjabi family, with their roots lying in Jalandhar, Punjab, India, from where his parents migrated following the 1947 partition of India. They moved to Toba Tek Singh before settling down in Rawalpindi's Dheri Hassanabad. His father, Syed Sarwar Munir, was the principal of the FG Technical High School, Lalkurti, Rawalpindi and the imam of a mosque, Masjid-al-Quraish, situated in a locality of Dheri Hassanabad, where he often delivered the Friday Khutbah sermon. Munir has two siblings, Syed Qasim Munir and Syed Hashim Munir. One of his brothers is a government school teacher. On 26 May 2016, Syed Qasim Munir was arrested after he hit a trolley and killed a labourer while drunk driving.

Munir got his early religious education in a traditional Islamic seminary in Rawalpindi, the Markazi Madrasah Dar-ul-Tajweed, in his youth also being a local cricketer as a fast bowler.

Later, Munir graduated from the Fuji school Japan, the Command and Staff College, Quetta, the Malaysian Armed Forces College, Kuala Lumpur and the National Defence University, Islamabad, where he earned his MPhil in Public Policy and Strategic Security Management.

Military career

Munir is from the 17th course of the Officers Training School (OTS) in Mangla. He was commissioned in the 23rd Battalion of the Frontier Force Regiment. He started his military career on 25 April 1986.

As a lieutenant colonel, Munir served in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia as part of the close defence cooperation between Riyadh and Islamabad, and also served in the Siachen Glacier.

While he was a brigadier, he served as the chief of staff of Pakistan's I Strike Corps Mangla, and commanded an infantry brigade in the Northern Areas. He was promoted to the rank of Major general in 2014 and served as the commander of the troops deployed in the Northern Areas of Pakistan.

Munir also served as the director-general of Military Intelligence in 2016. He was awarded the Hilal-i-Imtiaz in March 2018. Munir was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general in September 2018 and was subsequently appointed as DG ISI. In June 2019, Munir was replaced by Lt. Gen. Faiz Hameed as the new DG ISI. Subsequently, Munir was appointed as corps commander of XXX Corps in Gujranwala in 2019. From 2021 to November 2022, Lt-General Munir was posted at GHQ as the Quartermaster General of Pakistan Army. In November 2022, Lieutenant General Munir was promoted to the four-star general rank and appointed as the Chief of the Army Staff of the Pakistan Army.

At the time of his appointment as COAS, Munir was the most senior lieutenant general of the Pakistani army. In December 2022, General Munir received the Nishan-i-Imtiaz (Military) award from President Arif Alvi. At the Aiwan-e-Sadr, top military officials were given special investitures in front of Prime Minister Shebaz Sharif, diplomats, lawmakers, and federal ministers were present during the ceremony.

Munir is the second recipient of Sword of Honour who has risen to the position of army chief in the military history of Pakistan, after Asif Nawaz Janjua. Additionally, he is the only army chief in the history of Pakistan who has earlier served as chief of both premier military intelligence agencies of Pakistan, namely, Inter-Services Intelligence and Military Intelligence.

Significantly, Asim Munir's promotion as Field Marshal makes him as first and only person to serve office of the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) with the rank of Field Marshal ( five-star General), instead of (four-star General) in the history of Pakistan. Ayub Khan, who was Pakistan's first Field Marshal abandoned the office of the Chief of the Army Staff just after his promotion as Field Marshal on 27 October 1958. However, Munir continues to occupy office of the COAS as (five-star General), making his only person with such distinction.

Director-General of the ISI (2018–2019)

Munir was appointed the DG-ISI on 25 October 2018, under the tenure of Imran Khan. He oversaw the 2019 skirmish with India, relaying critical information between the two countries, and holding an important role. Pakistan's retaliation against India was triggered by the Munir-led committee who strongly advised Pakistan's civil-military leadership to respond to the Indian threat.

Munir's tenure as DG-ISI is the shortest in the country's history. It is alleged Munir was removed by Qamar Javed Bajwa under pressure from Imran Khan when Munir claimed to have exposed the corruption of Khan's wife, Bushra Bibi.

However, Khan called this allegation "completely false", further explaining in a post on X that "this is completely false. Neither did Gen Asim show me any proof of my wife's corruption nor did I make him resign because of that."

Chief of Army Staff (2022–present)

Munir was scheduled to retire on 27 November 2022. Before his appointment as Chief of Army Staff (COAS), he submitted his retirement application which was subsequently rejected by the Ministry of Defense, he was informed that the government had decided to retain him in service. Following consultations between Shehbaz Sharif and his brother, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Munir was appointed the new COAS on 24 November 2022, just three days before his planned retirement. The recommendation for Munir's appointment as COAS was forwarded by the then Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, to the then President Arif Alvi on 24 November 2022. Alvi approved it on the same day, officially extending Munir's service for a term of three years. Munir assumed the role of COAS on 29 November 2022, two days after his initially scheduled retirement. Munir's selection as COAS was from a pool of six eligible candidates. His appointment was widely perceived as strategic.

In November 2024, Asim Munir's tenure as Army Chief was extended from three to five years after Pakistan’s ruling coalition swiftly passed a bill with little debate. The controversial move sparked protests from PTI lawmakers, who accused the government of bypassing democratic processes and suppressing opposition voices. Despite the backlash, the extension secured Munir’s position until November 2027. It took 16 minutes for the senate to pass the amendment into law, which Khan's party lawmaker Omar Ayub termed as bulldozing the legislation by the ruling alliance without any debate in either house.

Handling of political crisis

In May 2023, Imran Khan was arrested, when he was released on bail, Munir found himself under direct criticism from Khan, with Khan accusing him of "dismantling the future of this country akistanto protect himself." Following the arrest of Khan, reports emerged indicating a division within the Pakistan Army.

Khan's arrest resulted in the May 9 riots, where military installations were attacked, looted, and ransacked. Munir visited the places where rioting had occurred, and vowed that such an event would never reoccur. Munir's reaction lead to the attempt of trying civilians under military courts, which received criticism from international observers as military courts are not seen as impartial and fair.

In March 2025, Reps. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) and Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.) introduced the bipartisan "Pakistan Democracy Act," seeking sanctions on Munir for persecuting political opponents, including Khan. The bill, invoking the Global Magnitsky Act, demanded sanctions within 180 days.

Handling of economic crisis

Munir has been adamant on solving the economic crisis in Pakistan by setting up the Special Investment Facilitation Council, intending to bring in billions of dollars of investment from abroad, especially Pakistan's Gulf allies. As of 2024, the SIFC has failed to attract any significant investment while Pakistan's investment ratio plunged to its lowest level in 50 years, falling to 13.1% of the economy. Analyst Mosharraf Zaidi pointed out the similarities between General Munir's SIFC and General Musharraf's Corporate & Industrial Restructuring Corporation (CIRC). The economic crisis in 2023, led to the Pakistani rupee devaluing to its weakest in its history, valuing at 308 per dollar. As a measure to strengthen the rupee, he initiated crackdowns on the black market, which had been selling dollars illegally, which was harming the rupee. These crackdowns were successful, and the Pakistani rupee had rebounded to become the world's best-performing currency in September 2023.

Visit to the United States

Munir visited the United States in December 2023, being hosted by the US Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Charles Q. Brown, and US Deputy National Security Adviser, Jonathan Finer. Munir reemphasised ties with the United States, which were under strain during former prime minister Imran Khan's premiership. The US reaffirmed Pakistan as an "ally" and expressed support for its commitments to regional security and defence cooperation.

Promotion to Field Marshal

In the aftermath of the 2025 India–Pakistan conflict, the Government of Pakistan promoted Munir to the rank of Field Marshal on 20 May 2025, making him the second individual in Pakistan's history to attain the rank after Ayub Khan. Asim Munir's promotion as Field Marshal makes him as first and only military commander in the history of Pakistan who is occupying office of the Chief of the Army Staff(COAS) with the rank of Field Marshal ( five-star General), which is a historical depart from a tradition where the COAS often holds a (four-star General rank). Ayub Khan, who was Pakistan's first Field Marshal abandoned office of the Chief of the Army Staff just after his promotion as Field Marshal.

The elevation was approved unanimously by the federal cabinet in recognition of his leadership during ''Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos'', which the government credited with repelling Indian aggression and ensuring national security. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described the military operation as a "remarkable success" and commended Munir's "exemplary courage and resolve".On 16 May 2025, he declared the day to be observed annually as ''Youm-e-Tashakur'' ("Day of Gratitude") following the conclusion of the 2025 India–Pakistan conflict. According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Munir dedicated the honour to the people of Pakistan, the armed forces, and particularly to the martyrs and veterans.

Personal life

Munir is a Muslim, and he is deemed as a conservative figure regarding religion. Munir's family are locally known as a hafiz family, as its many members are known to have memorized the entire Quran by heart, including Munir, who did so during his posting in Saudi Arabia as a Lieutenant-Colonel. He is the first army chief in Pakistan's history to have memorized the entire Qur'an.

Munir is known for his interest in physical fitness and athletics, and is regarded as an enthusiastic runner. He is also considered an avid reader and enjoys traveling.

Views

Stance regarding religious extremism

He has stressed the need for combating against Islamic extremism, providing a safe nation for Pakistan's religious minorities.

Foreign policy

Munir's foreign policy, or "the Munir doctrine", has been described as trying to shift away from the traditional choice between the United States and China as a primary geopolitical partner, and centred around three key points: to have a softer image of Pakistan, to transform it into a regional middle power, especially as a security actor, and to prioritize geoeconomics over geopolitics.

He has been critical of Pakistan's neighbours, arguing that Afghanistan did not support Pakistan's admission to the United Nations following independence and has historically supported the insurgency in Balochistan. Regarding India, he stated that "India has not reconciled with the concept of Pakistan, then how can we reconcile with them?"

"Pakistan first" policy

Munir is described as having a "Pakistan first" policy, taking a defensive stance against many of Pakistan's adversaries. After the 2024 Iran–Pakistan border skirmishes, Munir reiterated that Pakistan would respond to such altercations, stating that "You rancannot backstab us, and if you do, you will get a befitting reply."

Munir is also regarded as carrying a heavy anti-Afghan attitude, supporting the mass deportation of 1.7 million illegal Afghan refugees.

He has also stated that Pakistan should be prioritised over Afghanistan, even stating that "when it comes to the safety and security of every single Pakistani, the whole of Afghanistan can be damned."

Social conservatism

While speaking to a gathering of students from various public and private sector universities of the country, Munir appeared as a social conservative, warning the youth against social media and Westernization, eventually asking that "If we want to adopt Western civilization, then why did we get rid of Hindu civilization?".

Freedom of expression

In May 2024, Munir expressed concerns regarding "negative propaganda" on social media platforms and affirmed the military's readiness to address any threats or conspiracies. He also strongly denounced the dissemination of "disinformation" in Pakistan's cyberspace. Munir emphasized that the military understands its constitutional boundaries, and he urged others to also abide by the limits outlined in the constitution. He pointed to Article 19 of the Constitution of Pakistan, which delineates restrictions on freedom of expression, including the prohibition of incitement to violence and attempts to undermine the integrity, security, or defense of Pakistan, among other provisions.

In November 2024, a statement from state broadcaster PTV recorded Munir as saying "Unrestricted freedom of speech is leading to the degradation of moral values in all societies." He further said " ile technology has enhanced access to knowledge, it has also facilitated the rapid spread of misinformation and hateful narratives, destabilizing political and social structures globally".

Social media

In April 2024, Munir warned that negative propaganda and social media trolls would not be able to deter them. In May 2024, he cautioned that "inimical" forces and their supporters had unleashed "digital terrorism" and were intensifying efforts to sow discord between the Pakistan Armed Forces and the public by spreading "lies, fake news, and propaganda."

In August 2024, Munir warned that social media was being exploited to propagate "anarchy." His remarks that "Anarchy is spread through social media" followed a condemnation by the ISPR of social media campaigns to target the Pakistan Armed Forces. He also issued a warning against efforts to incite chaos within the country. The Tribune (India) highlighted that his comments followed social media posts drawing parallels between Pakistan's current situation and the downfall of Sheikh Hasina's government in Bangladesh.

On August 14, while addressing a parade on country's Independence Day, Munir reiterated his criticism of social media, warning that it was being used to spread chaos and false information targeting the Pakistan Armed Forces. He also attributed this "digital terrorism" to foreign elements.

On 21 August, Munir stated that it is the state's duty to shield the public from the adverse effects of social media-driven "hysteria" and "fitna." ''Dawn'' reported that this statement was part of a series of warnings from Munir and the Pakistani military concerning the potential "dangers" with social media.

Two-nation theory

On April 17, 2025, Munir publicly endorsed the two-nation theory, saying: On April 26, 2025, Munir reiterated his views on the two-nation theory while speaking at a passing out parade ceremony at the Pakistan Military Academy, saying, "the two-nation theory was based on the fundamental belief that Muslims and Hindus are two separate nations, not one."

In an interview with Farhat Javed Rabani of BBC Urdu, Joshua T. White of Johns Hopkins University described Munir's speech—emphasising religious identity and invoking the two-nation theory—as unusually provocative in tone, though aligned with Pakistan's ideological stance. He noted that its delivery just days before the 2025 Pahalgam attack complicated Pakistan's diplomatic posture by undermining claims of restraint. Abdul Basit of Singapore's S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies observed that while the speech may have reflected an emotionally charged moment, it was also interpreted as an assertion of authority, signalling that the military remained firmly in control. The BBC report noted that no direct link was established between the speech and the attack, though the timing fuelled regional tensions and speculation.

Public image

Criticism

Munir has been accused of intervening in civil politics, despite only being trusted with the nation's security and defence. Munir has also allegedly suppressed the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf political party led by Imran Khan. In the aftermath of May 9 riots, following the arrest of Imran Khan on corruption allegations, Munir used military courts for civilians who rebelled against the army.

On May 20, 2023, Munir announced that the "legal process of trial against planners, instigators, abettors and perpetrators involved in the May 9 tragedy has commenced under Pakistan Army Act and Official Secret Act". Furthermore, Munir exhorted army professionals to root out PTI inclined individuals. Human rights organizations raised the concerns that military trials lack the necessary safeguards and transparency, thereby exposing to the risk of potential miscarriages of justice. In a landmark judgement, the Supreme Court of Pakistan declared the trial of civilians in military courts as null and void, thereby drawing a legal line between the civilian and military domain.

In addition, he has also been criticised for the deportation of illegal Afghan refugees, which he condones, despite their tough conditions.

In June 2024, American Congressman Ro Khanna condemned the targeting of family members of pro-democracy American activists in Pakistan by military personnel and called for sanctions against Pakistani military leaders, including Munir.

On 4 November 2024, Michael Kugelman, director of the South Asia Institute at Washington's Wilson Center, described the extension of Munir's tenure as army chief as a move that strengthens "the most powerful post in Pakistan." He warned on X that "when a legislature is reduced to a rubber stamp, democracy is never a winner."

On 24 April 2025, following the 2025 Pahalgam attack, Michael Rubin (historian), Michael Rubin, a former Pentagon official, described Munir as a "terrorist" comparing him to the late Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden. He said, "the only difference between Osama Bin Laden and Asim Munir is that Osama Bin Laden lived in a cave and Asim Munir lives in a palace". He referred to Kashmir as Pakistan’s “jugular vein” and reiterated ‘two-nation theory’, and is widely seen as a catalyst for the violence. He is alleged to be the mastermind behind the 2025 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians. His provocative speeches shortly before the Pahalgam attack have been linked to inciting terrorism in Kashmir.

Reputation

On his appointment as COAS, ''Al Jazeera Media Network, Al-Jazeeras Abid Hussain described Munir as an officer with an "impeccable reputation" within the Pakistani military, while ''The Times of India'' described him as a "tough guy" for his hawkish attitude.

In 2025, Munir, was recognized among the world's 500 most influential Muslims by ''The Muslim 500'', an annual publication by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre in Amman, Jordan.

Controversies

Allegations by Zalmay Khalilzad

On 19 May 2023, Zalmay Khalilzad alleged on Twitter that during his visit to the Sialkot Cantonment, where several military installations were targeted in the May 9 riots, Munir issued threats against senior officers. Khalilzad claimed that Munir warned the families of those who participated in the riots, stating that if he "goes down he will take others down with him".

Subsequently, Khalilzad faced criticism from Pakistani government and various politicians who labeled his remarks as controversial and false. Various people, including senators and defence analysts, challenged him on his claims, and asked him for evidence. The United States Department of State then clarified that Khalilzad did not represent American foreign policy.

Allegations by Imran Khan

On 7 April 2024, Imran Khan, speaking to reporters while incarcerated, claimed that there was a conspiracy to assassinate him during his imprisonment and implied that "his fate was in the hands of Gen. Asim Munir". He stated "Let it be known that if anything happens to me or my wife, it'll be him who will be responsible." Khan alleged that his wife, Bushra Bibi had been poisoned during her incarceration in early 2024, however, according to her personal physician, no evidence of poisoning was found during medical checkup.

Khan also alleged that a "London plan" had been devised between Munir and Nawaz Sharif, aimed at sidelining the PTI and resolving the legal cases against Sharif. On 17 April, Imran Khan blamed Munir for the incarceration of his wife, and said, "If anything happens to her, I will not leave Asim Munir, I will not leave Asim Munir as long as I am alive. I will expose his unconstitutional and illegal steps." Bibi was found guilty in a corruption trial and also for unlawfully marrying Khan, each by separate courts. Instead of serving her sentence in Adiala Jail, she was permitted to serve it at her residence in Bani Gala, Islamabad.

On 2 May, Khan conveyed through an article for ''The Daily Telegraph'', that while incarcerated, the military establishment, led directly by Munir, employed various tactics to diminish his party's influence within Pakistan's political landscape. He stated that "the military establishment has done all they could against me. All that is left for them is to now murder me."

In June 2024, Khan accused Munir of violating an agreement to stay politically neutral in Pakistani politics and claimed that Munir's appointment as army chief was contingent on this neutrality, which then President of Pakistan, Arif Alvi could have blocked but didn't after Munir's promise. Khan also alleged a conspiracy between Munir and Nawaz Sharif, suggesting they cooperated against him in exchange for dropping corruption charges against Sharif, which led to Sharif's exile.

Khan also accused Munir of ordering Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agents to assassinate him and covering up these attempts by suppressing a police investigation and burying CCTV footage from a court appearance in March 2023 during a violent confrontation between his supporters and authorities. Khan also criticized Munir for allegedly obstructing an independent investigation into the Attempted assassination of Imran Khan, attempted assassination in November 2022.

Allegations of interference in judiciary

In his 2020 book, ''The Battle for Pakistan'', Shuja Nawaz stated that Munir "was reported to have been behind the sacking of a high court judge who had been critical of the ISI." However, Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui clarified that his removal occurred before Munir's appointment as ISI head and attributed his sacking to former Chief Justices Saqib Nisar and Asif Saeed Khosa, and then-DG-C ISI Major General Faiz Hameed. Siddiqui stated that Shuja Nawaz's account was incorrect and emphasized that Munir was not involved in his dismissal.

Allegations of nepotism

According to Ahmad Noorani, Munir's son-in-law, Major Uzair Ali Shah, is posted at the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom. While such a posting is typically reserved for top officers in the Pakistan Army, Noorani alleged in his report that Shah's appointment was based on favouritism, as he allegedly did not rank at the top of the selection process.

Noorani also alleged that Munir's extended family has been given key positions in both the military and civil sectors since his appointment as Chief of Army Staff. His maternal uncle, Syed Babar Ali Shah, for instance, has been instrumental in influencing high-level appointments in Islamabad, such as that of Ahmed Ishaq Jahangir as Director General of the Federal Investigation Agency. Similarly, Munir's first cousin, Hajra Sohail, reportedly rose from a scholarship manager to the Chief Executive Officer of the Pakistan Education Endowment Fund, despite lacking prior executive experience.

Following these revelations, Noorani's family home in Islamabad was stormed at 1:00 AM on 19 March 2025 by around 20 armed men claiming to be police. According to Noorani, all of them wore masks and were mainly in civilian clothing, while only a few were dressed like army commandos. They seized phones, deleted videos taken by the family, and forcibly took Noorani's two brothers, who are both engineers, to an unknown location. The family has heard nothing since. Reporters Without Borders reported that local police have denied any involvement.

Allegations of hate speech against Hindus

In mid‑April 2025, during an address to overseas Pakistanis, General Asim Munir reaffirmed the Two-nation theory, declaring: “Our religion is different. Our customs are different. Our traditions are different. Our thoughts are different. Our ambitions are different… That was the foundation of the Two‑Nation Theory.” These remarks were widely reported in South Asian media and noted for their emphasis on communal differentiation.

On 3 June 2025, India's Chief of Defence Staff, General Anil Chauhan, publicly accused Munir of having “spewed venom against Hindus” in the weeks leading up to the 2025 Pahalgam attack, Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir (union territory), Jammu and Kashmir. Chauhan linked this rhetoric to escalating cross-border tensions and cited it as part of India's official response to the attack.

Critics argue these statements reflect an increasingly religious-nationalist tone in Munir's public discourse, suggesting a departure from traditional military restraint. Supporters, conversely, characterize the remarks as an assertion of Pakistan's founding ideological principles.

Dates of promotion

Awards and decorations

Other awards he won are:

*Sword of Honour (Pakistan), Sword of Honor

Foreign decorations

Notes

References

External links

*

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shah, Syed Asim Munir
Living people
Military personnel from Rawalpindi
Chiefs of Army Staff, Pakistan
Directors General of Inter-Services Intelligence
Pakistani generals
Frontier Force Regiment officers
20th-century Pakistani military personnel
Pakistan Army personnel
21st-century Pakistani military personnel
Pakistani expatriates in Malaysia
National Defence University, Pakistan alumni
Graduates of the Staff College, Quetta
Academic staff of Pakistan Military Academy
Pakistani expatriates in Japan
Recipients of Hilal-i-Imtiaz
Recipients of Nishan-e-Imtiaz
Spymasters
Date of birth missing (living people)
Place of birth missing (living people)
1968 births
Field marshals