Eclipsing a Nation

The real contest in Pakistan is between Asim Munir, with his institutional control, and Imran Khan, the politician with unbroken public appeal

- Shantanu Mukharji

The problem with the Pakistani military leadership has always been its tendency to eye absolute power within the political establishment rather than adhering to the military textbook for guarding the frontiers, preserving territorial integrity, aiding civil administration in maintaining law and order, and responding to natural calamities. It is ironic, however, that right from Field Marshal Ayub Khan (1958-1969) to Field Marshal Asim Munir (November 29, 2022-present), both have nurtured and pursued their political ambitions.

While Ayub Khan assumed absolute power, ruled the country with an iron hand, and fought and lost a war with India in 1965, Asim Munir continues that legacy — falling just short of usurping absolute power, although he is widely seen as the de facto ruler of the country. He has marginalized the government of Shehbaz Sharif, which has now been relegated to a non-entity in a strife-torn, economically distressed, and terrorism-vulnerable Pakistan. Baluchistan is up in arms, and the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is wreaking havoc by targeting Pakistani infrastructure at periodic intervals with deadly terror assaults.

Significantly, while discussing the Field Marshals of Pakistan, Asim Munir's actions and utterances are marked by visible signs of political ambition. His rhetoric is overtly communal and anti-India — ostensibly to arouse anti-India hatred in the most acerbic fashion. This appears to be a clear attempt to foster military jingoism and war hysteria, serving to enhance his own image and feed his megalomania and pursuit of a personal agenda.