Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir has issued a stern warning to India, declaring that Pakistan will respond swiftly and decisively to any future violations of its sovereignty, and that assuming Pakistan would show restraint is a “dangerous misreading of its strategic fundamentals.”
Speaking at the passing out ceremony of the Pakistan Naval Academy in Karachi, COAS Munir said,
“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, will be met with a swift and befitting response.”
The statement comes in the aftermath of the most intense military confrontation between India and Pakistan in decades, following the April 22 attack in Indian-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir that killed 26 people. India blamed Pakistan-backed militants, a claim Islamabad strongly denied.
India responded with unprovoked military strikes that martyred over 50 Pakistanis, including security personnel. Pakistan retaliated forcefully, downing multiple Indian jets and targeting military installations. The escalation only ended after diplomatic intervention by the United States.
COAS Munir noted:
“India’s reckless actions under the guise of counterterrorism — in both the Pulwama episode of 2019 and the recent Pahalgam incident — were met with firm, calculated responses from Pakistan that preserved regional peace while upholding our national honor.”
He warned that any further escalation, “which could have catastrophic consequences for the entire region,” would rest solely on the shoulders of the aggressor.
Marka-e-Haq and Strategic Response
Referring to the successful multi-domain retaliatory operation dubbed “Marka-e-Haq”, the Army Chief said,
“The success of Marka-e-Haq shall never be erased from Indian memory.”
He reiterated the Armed Forces’ unwavering commitment to defending Pakistan at all costs, stating that provocations designed to derail Pakistan’s counterterrorism success will not be tolerated.
“Every time we begin turning the tide against terrorism decisively, India resorts to distractions. But such adversity has only strengthened our national resolve.”
On Kashmir and Global Misconceptions
Reaffirming Pakistan’s long-standing stance on the Kashmir dispute, Munir stated:
“We firmly stand with the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) in their rightful struggle for self-determination, in line with UN Security Council resolutions.”
He rejected India’s attempts to label the Kashmiri freedom movement as terrorism, asserting:
“This is a legitimate resistance movement — recognized under international law. Efforts to suppress Kashmiri voices have only made their cause more visible and urgent.”
Commitment to Peace, Readiness for War
Concluding his address, the COAS said:
“Despite persistent attempts by hostile forces to destabilize us, Pakistan is firmly on the path of progress. Our proud past fuels our journey towards a promising future.”
