Why Pakistan army chief Asim Munir's latest anti-India rhetoric hides a devious agenda
Pakistan army chief General Asim Munir has resorted to familiar anti-India rhetoric in his latest speech, claiming that Islamabad gave a "resolute response" to India during the military conflict following Operation Sindoor.
Munir, who was elevated to the Field Marshal rank, also spoke about the so-called “legitimate struggle” in Kashmir in a thinly veiled endorsement of terrorism.
Speaking at the Pakistan Naval Academy in Karachi on Saturday, Munir claimed: “Pakistan, despite grave provocations, acted with restraint and maturity, and demonstrated its commitment to regional peace and stability, which has led to Pakistan’s role as a net regional stabiliser.”
Sources told CNN-News18 that Munir’s speech was driven by frustration over India’s aborted Karachi strike during last month's military conflict, which exposed glaring weaknesses in Pakistan’s conventional military posture.
The operation, part of India’s assertive maritime strategy, showcased New Delhi’s capability to dominate the Arabian Sea — forcing Islamabad to de-escalate and urgently seek a ceasefire on May 10 when Pakistani DGMO reached out to his Indian counterpart.
“The context for Munir’s speech stemmed from India’s aborted Karachi strike, which showcased India’s capability for strong diplomacy through maritime dominance. This display of power forced Pakistan to de-escalate,” sources told CNN-News18.
They added that Munir is using anti-India rhetoric not just to maintain Pakistan’s long-standing hostile posture on Kashmir, but also to expand his own influence. “Munir’s ambitions are much broader, posing a wake-up call for Pakistani politicians. He aims to expand his influence significantly, leveraging anti-India rhetoric to consolidate power,” the sources said.
In his speech, Munir also repeated Islamabad’s familiar stance on Kashmir, saying, “Pakistan is a strong advocate for a just resolution of the Kashmir issue in accordance with United Nations resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.”
However, the speech appears to be a desperate attempt to shift focus from Pakistan’s internal discontent and military shortcomings. Days before the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, Munir had reignited tensions by calling Kashmir Pakistan’s “jugular vein” — which is now seen as a likely trigger for the incident.
Sources told CNN-News18 that the Indian Navy’s strategic positioning — just 260 miles off the coast of Karachi — has effectively boxed in Pakistan’s naval capacity. Indian forces have reportedly identified and targeted critical Pakistani assets, including warships, dry docks, and key port infrastructure.
“The inability of Pakistan’s navy to counter India’s strategic positioning forced Islamabad to urgently seek a ceasefire on May 10. This move underscored Pakistan’s conventional weaknesses, as exposed by Operation Sindoor. The aborted Karachi strike serves as a stark reminder of India’s enhanced military thresholds and capabilities,” sources said.
Karachi port handles nearly 60% of Pakistan’s trade, making it an economic lifeline — and a highly vulnerable one under current Indian surveillance and deterrence posture.
India and Pakistan were embroilled in a tense four-day military conflict in May, which ended after the neighbouring country reached out to the Indian DGMO. India's precision strikes on the air bases in Pakistan and naval posturing marked the turning point in the conflict.
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