Pakistan Promotes Army Chief General Asim Munir to Field Marshal Amid Rising Regional Tensions



In a historic move, Pakistan’s Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, has promoted General Asim Munir, the Chief of Army Staff, to the rank of Field Marshal. This is the first time in nearly six decades that a Pakistani general has been elevated to this five-star ceremonial rank, the last being General Ayub Khan in 1965.


The promotion comes in the aftermath of the most intense military confrontation between India and Pakistan in almost 30 years, marked by missile exchanges and drone strikes over a span of several days in early May 2025. The Pakistani government credited General Munir’s strategic leadership and courageous command during this period of heightened conflict for the elevation.


Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s office released a statement highlighting that the promotion recognizes Munir’s “exemplary courage and determination” in safeguarding Pakistan’s sovereignty and decisively countering Indian aggression. Munir himself expressed gratitude, dedicating the honor not to himself alone but to the entire armed forces and the nation, including civil and military martyrs and veterans.


General Munir took office as army chief in November 2022 and had his tenure extended by parliament to five years in November 2023, surpassing the usual three-year term. While the Field Marshal rank is largely ceremonial and does not alter his current responsibilities, experts suggest the promotion signals a likely extension of his tenure and consolidates his influence within Pakistan’s military and political spheres.


Critics and analysts view the promotion through a political lens, interpreting it as a move by Prime Minister Sharif to maintain a favorable relationship with the military establishment amid Pakistan’s complex civil-military dynamics. Some warn that this could further entrench military dominance over civilian governance, potentially impacting Pakistan’s fragile democratic institutions.


Alongside Munir’s promotion, the cabinet has also extended the tenure of Marshal Zaer Ahmedar Sid, chief of the Pakistan Air Force, though details of this extension remain undisclosed.


General Asim Munir’s elevation to Field Marshal underscores Pakistan’s emphasis on military leadership amid ongoing regional security challenges and reflects the enduring centrality of the armed forces in the country’s strategic and political landscape.

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