In a powerful and unwavering address, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir issued a clear and stern warning to India, cautioning against any miscalculated assumptions of Pakistan’s restraint in the face of unprovoked aggression. Speaking at the Pakistan Naval Academy’s passing out ceremony, the Army Chief condemned India’s recent hostilities and stressed that any future violations of Pakistan’s sovereignty would be met with a swift and befitting response.
A Dangerous Miscalculation
COAS Munir highlighted that any illusion that Pakistan would remain passive in the face of foreign aggression is a grave strategic misjudgment. “As we steadily but surely build our comprehensive national power, any enemy acting on the perceived vulnerability of Pakistan under the illusion of strategic impunity or miscalculation would get a swift and very befitting response,” he asserted.
His remarks come in the aftermath of the most intense military clashes between Pakistan and India in recent decades, triggered by the April 22 attack in Indian-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), which killed 26 people. India blamed Pakistan-backed militants for the attack — a claim that Islamabad has strongly denied.
Following the incident, India launched unprovoked attacks that resulted in the martyrdom of more than 50 people in Pakistan, including security personnel. In retaliation, the Pakistan military responded by downing multiple Indian jets and targeting military installations, forcing the United States to intervene diplomatically to de-escalate the conflict.
India’s Recklessness and Pakistan’s Restraint
Field Marshal Munir emphasized that India has twice acted recklessly under the pretext of counterterrorism — once in 2019 following the Pulwama incident and most recently after the Pahalgam attack. On both occasions, he said, Pakistan responded with resolve and maturity, avoiding broader regional destabilization.
India’s political leadership, marked by a troubling absence of strategic foresight, has repeatedly indulged in adventurism for political mileage, Munir stated. However, he added that Pakistan’s measured response and commitment to peace have demonstrated the nation’s strength and sense of responsibility.
He warned that any future escalation, should it occur, would be the fault of the aggressor and could have catastrophic consequences for the region.
India’s Strategic Distractions
The Army Chief criticized India’s pattern of staging strategic distractions whenever Pakistan makes significant progress in its counterterrorism efforts. Such adversities have only strengthened our national resolve,he said. He reaffirmed the military’s commitment to completely eradicating terrorism, noting that Pakistan would continue the fight against all forms of extremism until it reaches its logical conclusion.
Muinr also took a direct jab at Indian attempts to label Kashmiri resistance as terrorism, saying that this narrative is both flawed and dishonest. The struggle in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) is a legitimate freedom movement,he emphasized, calling on the international community to uphold United Nations Security Council resolutions and support the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination.
Kashmir Remains Central to Pakistan’s Foreign Policy
Reiterating Pakistan’s firm stance on the Kashmir issue, COAS Munir said, We continue to stand firmly with the people of IIOJK in their just struggle.He dismissed India’s attempts to equate this legitimate resistance with terrorism, stating that such moves have only intensified the freedom movement’s relevance in global discourse.
“Those who try to suppress the Kashmiri people’s will and pursue conflict elimination instead of resolution are making the issue even more prominent,” he added.
A Nation Steadfast on Its Path
Despite continued pressure and provocations from adversaries, Munir declared that Pakistan remains committed to development, prosperity, and regional peace. He paid tribute to the sacrifices of the armed forces and the nation in maintaining sovereignty, saying: Our glorious past is a source of pride, and our future holds the promise of fulfilling Pakistan’s manifest destiny.
Field Marshal Asim Munir concluded his address with a resounding commitment to defend Pakistan’s sovereignty at all costs, emphasizing that the armed forces stand ready to protect the nation from all threats, internal or external.
- COAS warns India against misjudging Pakistan’s strategic restraint.
- Pakistan responded decisively to India’s recent aggression after the Pahalgam incident.
- Any future violations will result in a “swift and befitting response.”
- Pakistan reaffirms its support for Kashmir’s right to self-determination.
- COAS criticizes India’s strategic distractions and attempts to delegitimize Kashmir’s freedom movement.
- Armed forces committed to counterterrorism and regional peace.
Pakistan’s leadership has made it clear: Sovereignty is non-negotiable, and any threats to the nation will be confronted with full national might.
