Tag: asim munir

  • US military magazine heaps praise on COAS Gen Asim Munir

    US military magazine heaps praise on COAS Gen Asim Munir

    The US Central Command (CENTCOM) magazine Unipath lauded the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir as a “forceful voice against violent extremists.”

    The magazine stated that the General will be remembered as a leader whose foremost commitment resides in the security, stability and prosperity of Pakistan.

    The article highlighted Gen Asim’s role in counterterrorism efforts, including his stance on fifth-generation warfare and capability to respond to foreign aggression, as well as socioeconomic measures.

    “Gen. Asim Munir has taken decisive action against Tehrik-i Taliban Pakistan (TTP) within Pakistan, known as Fitna al Khawarij. Under his leadership, through July 2024, 22,409 intelligence-based operations have been conducted against terrorists and their facilitators. They eliminated 398 terrorists, including 31 high-value targets,” the article stated.

    It also quoted Gen Asim’s speech to a jirga in Peshawar on August 7, 2023, in which the Gen remarked: “There is no option for these terrorists except to submit to the writ of the state of Pakistan before they are decimated if they persist on their wrong path.”

    It also mentioned that the Pakistan Army, under Gen Asim’s leadership, is fully prepared to defend the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the motherland.

    The Unipath magazine article highlighted how Pakistan’s “sovereignty was challenged on January 16, 2024, when Iran carried out a series of missile and drone strikes within Pakistan’s Balochistan province resulting in the deaths of two innocent children.”

    “To express its resolve and redeem its stature, on January 18, Pakistan conducted a meticulously planned and precisely targeted series of military strikes based on credible intelligence against terrorist hideouts in the Sistan-o-Baluchistan province of Iran. This operation, codenamed Marg Bar Sarmachar, resulted in the elimination of several terrorists,” stated the magazine.

    It also applauded the Chief’s role in trying to improve the economic conditions of the country through the initiative of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) and the Green Pakistan Initiative for job creation and economic development.

    Meanwhile, on Wednesday, over 60 democratic lawmakers of the United States House of Representatives called on US President Joe Biden in a letter to use Washington’s leverage with Pakistan to secure the release of incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan.

    “We write today to urge you to use the United States’ substantial leverage with Pakistan’s government to secure the release of political prisoners, including former Prime Minister Khan, and curtail widespread human rights abuses,” the letter read.

    PTI leader Qasim Khan Suri has been actively campaigning to engage with US lawmakers as he took to X to post: “Thank you, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, Congresswoman Cori Bush, for supporting human rights & democracy in Pakistan and calling for the release of political prisoners including former Prime Minister Imran Khan.”

  • COAS Gen Asim Munir calls for unity, declares bond between army and people vital

    COAS Gen Asim Munir calls for unity, declares bond between army and people vital

    Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir has said that political differences should not cause hatred among people and termed relations between the army and the people the foundation for defeating any enemy.

    Speaking on a Defence Day ceremony at General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi, Gen Munir said, “For national unity, it is essential that political differences do not turn into hatred.”

    The Army Chief highlighted the protection of minority rights to achieve national unity as per the constitution of Pakistan.

    Commenting on Operation “Azm-e-Istehkam” (Resolve of Stability), he said, “Operation Azm-e-Istahkam is part of the National Action Plan. In this long war, not only the Pakistan Armed Forces and law enforcement agencies but also a large number of civilians, especially from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, have made great sacrifices.”

    He added, “The malicious goals aimed at weakening national unity will not succeed.”

  • Gen Asim Munir denounces foreign-funded digital terrorism

    Gen Asim Munir denounces foreign-funded digital terrorism

    Chief of Army Staff Gen Asim Munir on Tuesday night stressed that a wave of ‘digital terrorism’ funded by foreign powers was aimed at creating a gap between state institutions and the public of Pakistan.

    Speaking at a parade at Pakistan Military Academy to mark Independence Day, the top general addressed vital issues, including the limitations of freedom of speech.

    The military is using the term digital terrorism increasingly to label its harsh critics on social media, which includes PTI activists.

    General Munir also quoted a verse from Surah Al Hujurat, stressing the importance of investigating and verifying information so it doesn’t cause panic.

    Moreover, he also discussed the security situation of the country and called on its neighbour, Afghanistan, to not choose TTP over Pakistan.

    The COAS referred to TTP as Fitna al-Khawarij for its “anti-state and anti-Sharia activities.”

  • Khan urges General Asim Munir to stay ‘neutral’

    Khan urges General Asim Munir to stay ‘neutral’

    Founder Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan, recently talked with journalists saying that she has a message for the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir from Imran Khan.

    “The two parties (PPP and PML-N) have completely lost in every aspect; therefore, they want to bring the people of Pakistan up against the army,” said Aleema, delivering Khan’s message to the Chief of Army.

    According to Aleema, Khan stated, “Army is the backbone of our country and we must honor our army because it protects our country.”

    She said that Khan condemned the lack of rule of law in the country and the degradation of democracy, blaming it for causing “brain drain and loss of confidence in businesses in Pakistan.”

    She finally stated that Khan had asked General Asim Munir to stay “neutral” for the sake of the country.

  • PTI statements against General Asim Munir, his family are ‘heartbreaking’, says PM Shehbaz

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a federal cabinet meeting today in which the Premier strongly condemned critical posts being posted by the “official website of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) against the COAS General Asim Munir and his family.”

    “From the official website of PTI, the kind of things that are being said against Army Chief General Asim Munir and his family, the eyes have never seen such a heartbreaking scene,” remarked Sharif in the cabinet meeting today.

    He stressed that it is utterly important that there is “no tolerance for any moves against our nation, its people and the Army Chief.”

    The Prime Minister remarked that many sacrifices have been made by the officers and soldiers to protect the country.

  • PTI’s Gandapur wants to meet army, ISI chiefs for talks

    PTI’s Gandapur wants to meet army, ISI chiefs for talks

    Following Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) expressing willingness to indulge in dialogue, Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Ali Amin Gandapur, after meeting incarcerated former Prime Minister Imran Khan at Adiala jail, said on Monday during his media talk that he wanted to meet Army Chief Gen Asim Munir and Director General Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Nadeem Anjum.

    CM Gandapur told journalists that Imran Khan hadn’t ever refused talks with other stakeholders, regretting that no one responded to Khan’s call for dialogues, confirming that the talks with the establishment or political parties have not yet started.

    He also stated that terms and conditions will not be changed for talks, adding that his party demanded recovery of its stolen mandate and a commission to investigate May 9 riots.

    “I want to meet the army chief and the DG ISI,” he said, clarifying that he met top military leadership on multiple occasions but those meetings were not one-on-one.

    The Chief Minister also criticized the newly launched Azm–e–Istehkam operation, confirming that the last apex committee meeting did not discuss military action.

  • No stability until May 9 Perpetrators brought to justice: Pak Army

    No stability until May 9 Perpetrators brought to justice: Pak Army

    The Pakistan Army on Thursday reiterated the call for bringing to justice the planners, perpetrators, abettors, and facilitators of the May 9 riots for the “collective good of the country”.

    According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s resolve was communicated during the 83rd Formation Commanders Conference at the General Headquarters (GHQ) presided by Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir.

    “Digital terrorism unleashed against state institutions, especially Pakistan’s armed forces, is being carried out with the help of external facilitators to achieve nefarious political objectives,” said the presser.

    Furthermore, the military leadership believed that there are efforts to sow discord between the state institutions and the Pakistani nation.

    The conference concluded with the determination that, “All threats to the security and stability of the country will be thwarted with the full support of a proud nation.”

  • ‘Lies, deceit, God knows what other lies’ Khan blames one General alone for his fall from power

    ‘Lies, deceit, God knows what other lies’ Khan blames one General alone for his fall from power

    Former Prime Minister Imran Khan gave an exclusive interview with renowned journalist Mehdi Hassan for his new platform Zeteo. Khan openly talked about his imprisonment experience, past regrets, and the country’s political situation.

    Mehdi Hassan clarified that he could only send a list of written questions and did not directly speak to him, nor could he ask a counter-question.

    Khan, who is currently incarcerated in Adiala jail, spoke about his ordeal in prison saying, “They employ psychological tactics to break my spirit, but my heart, fortified by faith in Allah, remains strong.”

    Hassan asked Khan whom he blamed for everything that had happened to him since the 2022 fall of his government and he replied, “After 11 months in prison, I am certain that this ordeal was orchestrated solely by General Bajwa. I hold no one else responsible.”

    The founder of PTI used strong words for the former Chief of Army Staff saying, “He meticulously planned and executed this scheme, presenting himself as a deceitful figure, creating lies and false narratives to cause both national and international chaos – all to secure his extension.”

    Khan blamed ex-COAS Bajwa for “painting him as anti-American due to his insatiable thirst for power. God knows what other lies he disseminated to various countries.”

    “My only regret is trusting General Bajwa,” he commented.

    Interestingly, Khan did not mention current Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir at all.

    Criticizing the ruling government he said, “This government lacks legitimacy. The PML-N barely won 17 seats in Parliament. The violence, torture, and pre-poll rigging were evident. After the elections, it took them nearly two days to alter the results.”

    Finally, Khan’s message was “There has been an attack on democracy and the right to self-determination of 250 million people”. He further called the February 8 general elections a sham which brought “more uncertainty and a greater trust deficit between the people and the ruling elite.”

  • Khan wants General Asim Munir to apologise to him

    Khan wants General Asim Munir to apologise to him

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder chairman Imran Khan said in a post on X that “My abduction on the morning of May 9 was part of the London plan and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir should apologise to me.”

    Imran Khan further said in the same post that “DG ISPR and the army chief are making political statements in a threating tone, which is affecting the army’s image.”

    “When political statements and press conferences are made, political parties have the right to respond,”  he added.

    The former Prime Minister also said that he will write a letter to COAS General Asim Munir about the economic and political situation of the money-strained country, Geo News has reported.

    While talking to journalists in Adiala jail on Monday, the former Premier said, “I will write a letter to the army chief on the [prevailing] situation in the country.”

    The remarks came about a few days after he assigned an “important responsibility” to former president Arif Alvi, who is continuously trying for better relations between PTI and the establishment.

    PTI founder assigned the responsibility of talks with the establishment to Alvi after declining the military’s demand to apologise for the May 9 violent protests. 

    On a question regarding the £190 million settlement case, the PTI founder said that Britain’s National Crime Agency (NCA) had confiscated money, finding it “suspicious transactions” but not “money laundering.”

  • Army releases 20 PTI workers arrested in May 9 riots

    Army releases 20 PTI workers arrested in May 9 riots

    Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir has approved the release of 20 convicts involved in the May 9 riots by granting them a special relaxation.

    The Chief allowed the convicts to go free before Eid-ul-Fitr, leading to their release on April 6 and 7.

    The list released by the Army showed that among those freed, are eight residents of Rawalpindi, three from Lahore, five from Gujranwala, three from Dir, and one from Mardan.

    None of the convicts had completed their sentences and were released only on the orders of COAS.

    Violent clashes and riots had erupted across the country after the arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan.

    On December 23, a Supreme Court bench headed by Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan had allowed the resumption of military trials.

    The released convicts had stayed in custody for various periods up to 10.5 months.