Pakistan’s federal cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, on Tuesday approved the promotion of Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir to the rank of Field Marshal, marking him as only the second military officer in the country’s history to hold this prestigious five-star rank, following General Ayub Khan in 1959.

The decision, announced by the Prime Minister’s Office, was made in recognition of Munir’s “exemplary role” in leading the armed forces during the recent military conflict with India, dubbed Operation Bunyanum Marsoos by Pakistan.

The largely ceremonial promotion comes in the wake of heightened tensions following the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam terror attack in Indian-administered Kashmir, which killed 26 civilians, mostly Hindu tourists. India attributed the attack to Pakistan-backed militants, prompting Operation Sindoor on May 7, a series of precision airstrikes targeting nine terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

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Pakistan’s retaliatory drone and missile strikes on May 9 and 10 were thwarted, leading to a US-brokered ceasefire on May 10. While Pakistan claims a “resounding success” in the conflict, Indian sources and analysts, including Austrian military historian Tom Cooper, describe India’s strikes as a “clear-cut victory,” citing significant damage to Pakistani air bases like Nur Khan and Sargodha.

The Pakistani Prime Minister’s Office lauded Munir for his “strategic brilliance and courageous leadership” in ensuring national security. In a statement via Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Munir dedicated the honor to Pakistan’s armed forces and people, stating, “This is not a personal achievement, but a tribute to the nation’s trust, for which millions of Asims are ready to sacrifice their lives.” Prime Minister Sharif briefed President Asif Ali Zardari on the decision, which also included extending the tenure of Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu.

Munir, who assumed the role of army chief in November 2022 after heading both the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Military Intelligence (MI), has been a polarizing figure. His hardline stance on India, rooted in the two-nation theory, was evident in a speech on April 17, where he called Kashmir Pakistan’s “jugular vein” and emphasized religious and cultural differences with India. Critics, including Indian officials, have linked his rhetoric to the Pahalgam attack, alleging it incited militant groups.

Unlike Ayub Khan, who self-elevated to Field Marshal during his rule as a military dictator, Munir’s promotion was formally approved by the cabinet, reflecting his growing influence in Pakistan’s civil-military dynamics. 

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