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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.

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