Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir on Saturday warned India that there is “no room for war in a nuclearized environment” and hailed Pakistan’s “clear victory” during the May conflict with the neighboring country.
Addressing a passing out parade at the Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) in Kakul, COAS Munir said, “I strongly advise and warn the military leaders of India that there is no space for war in a nuclearized environment.”
Asking New Delhi to resolve key issues as per international norms, the army chief said: “We will never be intimidated or coerced by your rhetoric and will respond decisively, beyond proportion, to even a minor provocation without any qualms.
“The responsibility for the ensuing escalations, which may ultimately have catastrophic consequences for the entire region and beyond, will lie squarely with India.”
“If a new wave of hostilities were to break out, Pakistan would respond far beyond the expectations of those who initiated it,” warned COAS Munir.
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“With diminishing distinctions between conflict and communication zones, the range and lethality of our weapons systems will destroy the erroneous immunity of India’s geographical warspace.
“The deeply painful military and economic losses inflicted will be far beyond the imagination and calculation of the perpetrators of the chaos and instability,” he said.
“The battle-hardened army, which has fought for over two decades at the sub-conventional level, has successfully demonstrated its capabilities at the conventional level, besides dealing a swift and decisive blow to the adversary,” he said.
“Since the creation of Pakistan, the armed forces, with the full support of the nation, have defended the country’s external and internal borders with unwavering determination, conviction and pride.
“The latest demonstration of this spirit and determination by the Pakistani armed forces during Marka-i-Haq [and] Operation Bunyanum Marsoos has further strengthened the confidence of the people of Pakistan in the competence and long-range capabilities of their armed forces by neutralizing all threats with remarkable professionalism,” COAS Munir said, referring to the four-day conflict in May with India.
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“Downing advanced […] Rafales targeting multiple bases including S-400s and displaying multi-domain warfare capabilities, Pakistan has shown its capabilities and willingness to defend,” COAS Munir said.
He further said that “people of shades and colours, ages, genders, ethnicities or creeds stood firm and tall like a steel wall, leading to a renewed spirit of patriotism and national fervour, prevailing across the length and breadth of Pakistan.”
“Our collective success has revitalized and strengthened the proud and illustrious memories of our previous successes. Pakistan once again emerged victorious against a treacherous enemy marked by strategic blindness and naivety, and full of arrogance and rhetoric about its misguided hegemonic ambitions.
“India’s eagerness to judge guilt, aversion to neutral investigations and bringing into play evidence of its own creation were indicative of the politicization of terrorism to benefit the vested interests of the ruling regime,” he added.
COAS Munir went on to say, “Pakistan, on the other hand, has earned the deep admiration of the people of Pakistan and the international community due to legitimacy and clear victory against a numerically superior adversary.
“Internally, it has further unified our nation and strengthened our resolve to defend ourselves against any threat, be it external or internal. It has reinforced confidence, particularly among the youth, that Pakistan’s armed forces are an essential element of national power and are entrusted with the responsibility of protecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the State,” he said, assuring the nation that “we will not lose even an inch of this land sacred.”
He praised the “courage of the people of Pakistan: every soldier, sailor, airman; the brave men, women, children and elderly who gave their lives during these difficult times; and the warriors who fought with utmost conviction to defend their homeland at all costs.”
“The national leaders, the bureaucracy, academics, scientists, the media, the academic world and, most importantly, the youth deserve a rich tribute for firmly opposing the aggression,” the army chief added.
The army chief also spoke about Pakistan’s economy, praising the government’s “tireless efforts” to achieve relative stability and noting that positive economic indicators were attracting investment from around the world.
“The treasures hidden beneath our land for decades have begun to emerge as a ray of light for our bright future. Our vibrant, talented youth are doing wonders in a multitude of fields.”
He also reiterated his warnings about social media and asked people to be aware of the threats “proliferating through digital media, populist anarchism and social subversion.”
“Unfortunately, in the post-truth era we live in, perceptions carry more weight than reality and half-truths spread faster than facts. Your strength will be in thinking critically and discerning between facts and fiction,” he said, urging them not to become “tools of misinformation.”
Choose mutual security instead of perpetual violence, COAS tells Kabul
The army chief also reiterated Pakistan’s stance that India is “continuing state-sponsored terrorism”.
“Our adversary’s use of Fitna al-Hind and Fitna al-Khawarij while the hired killers expose their… hypocritical and atrocious face to the world. Equally disconcerting is the use of Afghan soil for terrorism in Pakistan,” he said.
Urging the people of Afghanistan to choose mutual security over perpetual violence, COAS Munir urged the “Afghan Taliban regime to control the proxies who have sanctuaries in Afghanistan.”
“Rest assured, like our victory in the conventional arena, all state representatives of our neighbor will be reduced to dust, God willing,” he said, vowing never to bow down to “misguided terrorists who have a perverted interpretation of Islam.”
Speaking about occupied Kashmir, the army chief said India’s “widespread oppression and atrocities” in the valley will also come to an end. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s diplomatic and moral support for the freedom struggle of Kashmiris until the resolution of the dispute in accordance with United Nations resolutions.
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“Pakistan has successfully emerged as a net regional stabilizer”
During his speech, COAS Munir noted that the world was witnessing “increased fragility and volatility, with a perceptible shift towards violence as an instrument to achieve political objectives.”
“Amidst the chaos, Pakistan has successfully emerged as a net regional stabilizer. Our relations with key global and regional powers, particularly Muslim countries, have been further strengthened.”
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The army chief stated that Pakistan had persistently proven itself “to be a key contributor to peace and stability in the region and beyond”, highlighting the contributions of Pakistan’s armed forces to UN peacekeeping missions.
He also mentioned the Pakistan-Saudi Arabia Mutual Defense Strategic Agreement, calling it “reinforcement and formalization of the brotherhood between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia and a step towards ensuring peace and stability in the Middle East and South Asia.”
COAS Munir said Islamabad had also made “humble contributions to the peaceful conduct of negotiations with Iran”, adding that Pakistan’s relations with all Muslim countries were “prospering at an exponential rate”.
Hailing Pakistan’s historic “all-weather strategic cooperative partnership” with China, the army chief also noted, “The revitalized, strong and growing relations with the United States of America is an encouraging and welcome development.”
He praised US President Donald Trump, saying his “personal efforts and strategic leadership in bringing peace to multiple conflict-prone areas of the world are truly praiseworthy.”
“We will further foster these relationships with key global and regional actors in the interests of peace, security and development.”
COAS Munir also attacked Israel for its “flagrant aggression, genocide and forced displacement against Palestinians.”
Highlighting Pakistan’s “significant” role in diplomatic efforts to secure the recent peace in Gaza, the field marshal said Pakistan hopes for the continuation of the ceasefire, followed by a smooth flow of humanitarian aid and the reconstruction of Gaza.
“Pakistan defends its principled stance that the two-state solution is indispensable and the need for an independent, sovereign and viable State of Palestine based on the pre-1967 war borders, with Al Quds Sharif as its capital,” he reaffirmed.
‘Enemies bent on driving a wedge between the people and the armed forces’
Addressing the cadets, he stressed that they were being commissioned into “one of the best armies in the world, second to none, respected by one and all.”
“This demands your absolute loyalty to Pakistan, the armed forces and the sacred task entrusted to them,” he stressed.[Pakistan“thearmedforcesandthesacredtaskbeingentrustedontoyourshoulders”heunderscored[Pakistantothearmedforcesandthesacredtaskbeingentrustedontoyourshoulders”heunderscored
“Remember, our enemies are bent on driving a wedge between our people and the armed forces for ulterior motives. Let me remind you that the bond between the people and the armed forces is unbreakable,” the field marshal said.
He told the cadets that nothing should be more sacred than the safety of the people of Pakistan and no duty more binding than the defense of the country.
“Pakistan’s defense doctrine is based on credible deterrence and perpetual readiness, spanning the entire spectrum of capabilities. As a professional standing army, our conventional prowess through constant doctrinal and technological evolution has been optimized into a dynamic, integrated and adaptable force,” the army chief said.
Underlining the need for intellectual preparation and technological advancement, COAS Munir told the cadets to “embrace innovation, lifelong learning and adaptability to face modern threats.”
At the beginning of his speech, the army chief extended his warm greetings and gratitude to the “impeccably dressed gentlemen and lady cadets for their outstanding display of professionalism and discipline.”
He also expressed his congratulations to the cadets from friendly countries of Malaysia, Nepal, Palestine, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Yemen, Mali, Maldives and Nigeria for “successfully completing the formative training at this prestigious institution.”
“This is a proud moment for you and all of us, reflecting the strong bond of military cooperation and international camaraderie,” COAS Munir said.
He stressed that the PMA’s role “as a cornerstone of military excellence has always been commendable, and the standards exhibited today no less reflect the same.”
