Field Marshal Asim Munir has set out Pakistan’s strategic outlook: celebrating the mutual defense pact with Saudi Arabia, reaffirming core partnerships with China and the US, condemning terrorism and proxy warfare, and underlining unwavering support for Kashmir and Palestine.
In an address at the Pakistan Military Academy’s passing-out parade, where he was the chief guest, he coupled the foreign-policy vision with a hard security message, warning India against misadventure in a nuclear environment and pledging decisive responses to any aggression.
Strategic partnerships and regional diplomacy
The army chief said the recent strategic mutual defense agreement with Saudi Arabia “strengthens and formalizes the Pakistan–Saudi brotherhood” and marks a step toward peace and stability in the Middle East and South Asia. He called it a unique honour for the Pakistani people and armed forces to offer services for the defense of the Two Holy Mosques.
Pakistan, the field marshal noted, has played a role in the peaceful negotiation process with Iran, while relations with other Muslim countries are rapidly developing.
He highlighted pride in Pakistan’s historic, strategically cooperative partnership with China, and described the revitalization of strong and growing ties with the United States as encouraging and welcome. He praised US President Donald Trump’s personal efforts and strategic leadership for peace in conflict-ridden regions, pledging to cultivate ties with global and regional leaders for peace, security, and development.
Security threats: Proxies, terrorism, Afghan soil
After what he termed India’s failed aggression during the Marka-e-Haq, the army chief accused New Delhi of persisting with state-sponsored terrorism. He said the enemy’s use of “Fitna-tul-Hindustan” and “Fitna-ul-Khawarij” as “hired guns” exposes a cowardly, hypocritical, and heinous face to the world.
Calling the use of Afghan soil for terrorism in Pakistan “equally troubling,” he urged the people of Afghanistan to choose mutual security over perpetual violence and move beyond prejudice. He said the Taliban regime must rein in proxies with sanctuaries in Afghanistan, which are used to carry out heinous attacks inside Pakistan.
With the support of Pakistan’s people, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, the field marshal vowed that law-enforcement agencies and the armed forces will defeat this scourge.
“As we prevailed in the conventional domain, every state-sponsored proxy of our neighbour will be reduced to dust,” he said, adding Pakistan will never bow to misguided terrorists who misinterpret Islam.
Kashmir and Palestine: Firm, long-standing positions
He demanded an end to state-sponsored terrorism, coercion, and atrocities in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK), asking how long Kashmiris will remain victims and be deprived of self-determination. Pakistan, he said, stands firm on its principled position and will continue political, diplomatic, and moral support until the dispute is resolved per UN Security Council resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.
He also remarked that the world has finally taken notice of Israeli aggression, genocide, and forced displacement of Palestinians, noting thousands of innocent civilians, including women, children, and the elderly, have been martyred.
He credited Pakistan’s consistent diplomacy with helping advance the recent peace initiative in Gaza, expressing hope for lasting peace and stability, a continued ceasefire, humanitarian aid, and reconstruction -- so Palestinians may live in peace in their homeland. Reiterating policy, he backed a two-state solution with a free, sovereign, and viable state of Palestine on pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as capital.
Doctrine of deterrence and message to India
Field Marshal Munir said Pakistan’s defense doctrine rests on credible deterrence and perpetual readiness, encompassing all capabilities. Tested for two decades in the sub-conventional battlefield, the Army has proven its mettle in the conventional domain with befitting responses.
If aggression is attempted again, he warned, Pakistan will respond far more strongly than expected. Pakistan’s long-range, more lethal weapons would end the fabricated notion that India’s geographic vastness offers protection, and the military and economic losses inflicted would exceed Indian expectations.
He sternly warned Indian military leadership there is “no space for war” between two nuclear states, urging resolution of fundamental issues with Pakistan on the basis of equality and mutual respect under international norms. He said Pakistan won’t be intimidated by rhetoric and will give a decisive response to even slight provocation, placing responsibility for any escalation -- with potentially devastating regional consequences -- squarely on India.
Operations, capabilities, international role
The field marshal said Pakistan targeted multiple enemy bases, including S-400 systems, and fully demonstrated multi-domain warfare capabilities. In Operation Bunyanun Marsus, the armed forces’ professionalism and resolve defeated the enemy, further strengthening national confidence. He added that Rafale aircraft were shot down during highly professional operations, stressing the nation stood like a wall of steel with the forces.
Asim Munir said India leveled baseless accusations and avoided impartial investigations, presenting self-fabricated evidence to politicize terrorism. Pakistan’s clear victory against a numerically larger enemy, he claimed, earned respect from both Pakistanis and the international community, reinforcing youth confidence that the armed forces are a pillar of national power.
He described Pakistan as a "net regional stabiliser", with relations strengthened with global powers, especially Muslim countries. Pakistan has consistently proven a key role in regional and broader stability, with the armed forces participating in large numbers in UN peacekeeping missions, he stated.
Tribute, ethos, professional calling
Expressing deep gratitude to the martyrs and their families, the army chief said Pakistan lives free because of their sacrifices. “You are the heirs of the martyrs; live worthy of their memory,” he told the passing-out cadets, saluting every soldier, sailor, airman, and every brave man, woman, child, and elder who sacrificed during trying times.
He also paid tribute to veterans and commended national leadership, bureaucracy, scholars, scientists, media, and the education sector.
“You should be proud to join one of the world’s great and dignified armies, second to none,” he said, warning that the enemy seeks to create rifts between the people and the armed forces.
National creed, information integrity, moral leadership
Citing Surah As-Saff (4) that “Allah loves those who fight in His cause in a row as though they are a single solid structure” and recalling Quaid-e-Azam’s January 1948 directives on service, sacrifice, and sovereignty, the army chief said victory comes from training, character, and steadfastness, not rhetoric. He urged cadets to make professional excellence, discipline, and moral leadership the hallmarks of their character.
Calling out the post-truth era, he warned that perceptions often outweigh reality and half-truths spread faster than facts. He urged Pakistanis not to fall prey to fake news and disinformation, stressing that Pakistan’s capability and rising stature demand courage and resolve against challenges.
Ever-ready defense and road ahead
The army chief vowed that the flag of Pakistan will remain aloft, assured the nation not an inch of the sacred land will be ceded, and pledged that those in uniform will always be ready to defend ideological and geographic frontiers while supporting development and prosperity.
Meanwhile, cadets from several friendly countries, including Iraq, Palestine, Qatar, Mali, Nepal, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Yemen, Bangladesh, and Nigeria, also graduated from the Pakistan Military Academy (PMA).
The army chief reviewed the parade and presented awards to distinguished cadets. The coveted Sword of Honour was awarded to Academy Senior Under Officer Ahmed Mujtaba Arif Raja of the 152nd PMA Long Course. The President’s Gold Medal went to Battalion Senior Under Officer Zohair Hussain, also of the 152nd PMA Long Course. The Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Overseas Gold Medal was conferred on Friendly Country Company Junior Under Officer Tekraj of the 152nd PMA Long Course.
The Chief of Army Staff Marksman Medal was awarded to Gentleman Cadet Syed Hashir Hassan of the 152nd PMA Long Course, while the Chief of Army Staff Cane went to Course Under Officer Shaheer Ali of the 37th Technical Graduate Course. The Commandant’s Overseas Medal was awarded to Course Sports Sergeant Most Jannatul Mawa of the 26th Lady Cadet Course, whereas Commandant’s Canes were presented to Course Under Officer Sayed Abdul Hadi of the 71st Integrated Course and Course Under Officer Hadia Fayyaz of the 26th Lady Cadet Course.
