General Asim Munir, Pakistan’s army chief, has emerged as the country’s most powerful and now widely admired figure, especially following the most intense conflict with India in decades. Previously criticised for political interference and suppression of opponents, Munir has seen a dramatic rise in public support. In recognition of his leadership during the conflict, the government promoted him to the rarely awarded rank of Field Marshal.
Recent rallies across Pakistan displayed slogans like "Long live General Asim Munir!" and portrayed him as a national hero. A Gallup Pakistan survey reported that 93% of respondents viewed the military more positively after the conflict.
Even his staunch rival, jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan, praised the military’s performance, saluting their professionalism and defending their role in the conflict. Political analyst Yousuf Nazar noted that Munir has restored the military’s dominance and emerged as a powerful strongman.
After becoming army chief in late 2022, Munir faced backlash for the jailing of Khan, a crackdown on his supporters, and alleged election interference. However, the recent military confrontation with India shifted public opinion dramatically in his favor.
Author Ayesha Siddiqa described Munir as now stronger than any of his predecessors, framing the regional power struggle as one between two ideological hardliners: India’s Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistan’s devout Muslim general. She called it “an Islamist general versus a religious strongman.”
The conflict stemmed from an April 22 attack in Indian Kashmir that killed 26 people, mostly tourists. India blamed Pakistan-backed militants, prompting retaliatory airstrikes on May 7. Pakistan responded with counterstrikes on May 10, claiming to have downed multiple Indian jets. Both sides acknowledged damage and losses.
Munir publicly emphasized the religious and cultural divide between India and Pakistan, quoting Quranic verses and declaring Pakistan must be a "hard state." He named Pakistan's retaliation "Bunyan Marsoos" — meaning “Iron Wall” — launched at dawn, a spiritually significant time.
A former teacher’s son and a former head of both Inter-Services Intelligence and Military Intelligence, Munir is set to remain army chief until at least 2027, with a potential extension to 2032. Former ambassador Husain Haqqani noted Munir's hawkish stance on India, contrasting it with his predecessor’s attempts at diplomacy. He added that such conflicts often unify Pakistanis around the army as their protector, bolstering Munir’s standing.