In 1959, Mohammad Ayub Khan proclaimed himself Field Marshal as he neared retirement from the Army. He claimed the promotion was in response to ‘persistent requests’ from Pakistani civil society. However, history suggests he essentially awarded himself the Army’s highest rank after staging a coup and declaring himself President in 1958. Ayub Khan didn’t serve as the Pakistan Army Chief after becoming a Field Marshal at that time. Now, Pakistan’s Army Chief, General Asim Munir- allegedly linked to the Pahalgam terror attack- has been elevated to the most prestigious position in the country’s military. The Government of Pakistan has announced that Munir is being promoted to the rank of Field Marshal. This would make him the second Field Marshal in the history of the Pakistan Army, after Ayub Khan.
“The government of Pakistan has approved the promotion of General Syed Asim Munir (Nishan-i-Imtiaz Military) to the rank of field marshal for ensuring the security of the country and defeating the enemy based on the high strategy and courageous leadership during Marka-i-Haq and Operation Bunyanum Marsoos ,” the PMO statement said, according to Pakistani publication Dawn.
In effect, the government’s message to the Army Chief was: ‘More power to you.’ This itself says what Munir is up to…
Narrative Pakistan Is Trying To Build Globally
According to experts, the rank of field marshal is typically awarded following a significant military victory. By conferring this rank on Munir shortly after the India-Pakistan ceasefire, Pakistan aimed to shape a narrative of strength. Meanwhile, as India has begun sending multi-party delegations to explain Operation Sindoor to the international community, Pakistan is working to portray itself as having the upper hand in the recent tensions. The country even organised a propaganda victory rally, prominently featuring cricketers as key campaigners. The videos were shared online with a big boost.
But The Actual Truth
The truth is very different. Satellite images show that the country’s air bases and terror camps were badly damaged. Also, many of its attacks on India using drones and missiles made in China and Turkey, like the Yiha drones and PL-15 missiles, were thwarted by the Indian military. Experts and people who watch Pakistan say that making Munir a field marshal- a special five-star rank given for life- is a trick by the Pakistani army to gain more support. It also shows that the government is very controlled by the military.
Who Is Asim Munir?
Asim Munir is in his late 50s. He is the son of a school principal and religious scholar. He joined the army through the Officers Training School in Mangla in 1986, after graduating from the Officers Training School (OTS) in Mangla (Punjab), which has now been shut down. He earned the prestigious Sword of Honour given to the best-performing cadet. He then joined the 23rd Frontier Force Regiment as a commissioned officer. Born to a father who worked as both a school teacher and an imam, the army chief grew up in a deeply religious environment. He is often chanting Islamic verses during his speeches. He has studied at several military training institutions during his career. These include the Fuji School in Japan, the Command and Staff College in Quetta, the Malaysian Armed Forces Defence College in Kuala Lumpur, and the National Defence University (NDU) in Islamabad.
Pakistan’s army chief, who is a Hafiz-e-Quran (a person who has memorised the entire Quran), has repeatedly given speeches that promote Islamic ideologies. In the past, his speeches about Kashmir have also been provocative and inflammatory.
Addressing public a few days back of Pahalgam terror attack, he said: “You have to narrate Pakistan’s story to your children so that they don’t forget it when our forefathers thought we were different from Hindus in every possible aspect of life. Our religion is different, our customs are different, our traditions are different, our thoughts are different, our ambitions are different; that’s where the foundation of the two-nation theory was laid. We are two nations, we are not one nation.”
Field Marshal Title
The title is not just a military rank but a national honour that recognises an individual’s important role in protecting the country’s freedom, unity, and pride during critical moments in history. It reflects the highest level of trust the state places in the person’s leadership, strategic vision, and dedication to serving the nation.
Now The Comparison- Asim And Ayub
The main difference between the two is that Ayub Khan promoted himself to the rank of Field Marshal, while Asim Munir is being promoted by the civilian government of Pakistan, led by the Prime Minister. Another important difference is that Ayub Khan did not continue to lead the Pakistan Army after becoming Field Marshal, whereas Asim Munir will remain the Chief of Army Staff until his scheduled retirement.
