Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir, has firmly denied any rumours about a potential change in the country’s leadership, labelling them as “completely false” and contrary to both the government and the establishment. Speaking in Brussels with senior journalist Sohail Waraich, he stated, “God made me this country’s guardian,” and affirmed he has no desire for any other position.
He stressed that genuine political reconciliation is only achievable if all parties involved offer sincere apologies. The rumours began circulating in July, suggesting that President Asif Ali Zardari might be asked to resign and that the COAS would assume the top office. However, top government officials, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, rejected these claims. PM Shehbaz had said that “Field Marshal Asim Munir has never expressed any desire to become the president, nor is there any such plan in the offing,” while Naqvi called it a “malicious campaign” targeting President Zardari, the premier, and the army chief.
During his interaction with the journalist, Field Marshal Munir also highlighted Pakistan’s long history of maintaining balanced relations with China and the United States, stating: “We will not sacrifice one friend for the sake of another.”
US-Pakistan relations have shown signs of improvement since President Donald Trump took office. He recently hosted COAS Munir for lunch at the White House, a move that concerned India and signalled a significant diplomatic shift.
On international diplomacy, the army chief noted that President Trump’s desire for peace is genuine, which is why Pakistan was the first to endorse his nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize. He added that other nations are now following Pakistan’s lead in supporting the nomination.
Regarding regional security, Field Marshal Munir issued a warning to India not to attempt to destabilize Pakistan through proxies.
The army chief commended Prime Minister Shehbaz for his dedication, including working 18-hour days during the war, and praised the government and cabinet for their remarkable resolve during challenging periods. He also accused India of escalating its proxy war against Pakistan following its defeat in “Marka-e-Haq” — the brief military conflict between the two nuclear powers — and using “Fitna-al-Khawarij” and “Fitna-al-Hindustan” to advance its agenda.
He also urged the Afghan government to cease policies that push the Taliban into Pakistan and reaffirmed that the state is responsible for protecting every Pakistani’s life.
At the event in Brussels, overseas Pakistanis welcomed Field Marshal Munir as a war victor. He spent several hours meeting with Pakistanis who had travelled great distances, despite advice that such a large gathering could cause logistical issues. The army chief insisted that the dedication and enthusiasm of the attendees could not be ignored.
