Asim Munir: Field Marshal or illusion of power?

The promotion of Pakistani army chief Asim Munir to Field Marshal has been packaged as a reward for his so-called military success against India.

Transcript

00:00In a move that sparked national pride and international scepticism, Pakistan has promoted

00:04its army chief, General Asim Munir, to the esteemed rank of field marshal. Pakistan's

00:08Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif signed off on the historic promotion on 20th May 2025. Munir is

00:13now the second field marshal in Pakistan's history. The last one, General Muhammad Ayyub Khan,

00:18all the way back in 1958. So what's behind this rare honour? The timing is interesting.

00:24In early May 2025, Pakistan and India were in a four-day skirmish,

00:27dubbed Operation Banyan Al-Marsus by Pakistan. It was their response to border escalations.

00:33Pakistan's military claimed major wins, but India's side told a very different story.

00:37For Pakistan, a country where the military plays a huge role in politics and society,

00:59this rank carries immense weight. The army has stepped in multiple times in Pakistan's history

01:04to shape governments, influence policies, and even run the country directly. So when a military chief

01:09climbs to the rank of field marshal, it's a signal, not just of respect within the forces,

01:14but of deep influence over the nation's future. General Ayyub Khan, the first to hold this title

01:19in Pakistan in 1958, rose to prominence as both a military leader and the country's second president.

01:25His tenure left a lasting impact, shaping Pakistan's military and political landscape.

01:29Muni's promotion isn't a celebration of victory. It's a gamble, a desperate attempt to project strength

01:34while Pakistan wrestles with the fallout of his failed strategies. This isn't about winning wars

01:39or achieving glory. It's about holding on to power in a state that feels like it's slipping away.