COAS Munir vows May-like response to any aggression

• Field Marshal Munir asserts Pakistan’s response will mirror May 2025 conflict actions
• Army chief highlights divine guidance and faith-driven defense posture of Pakistani troops
• Emphasizes on national defence, regional stability, and Pakistan-Jordan military cooperation

ISLAMABAD: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir on Sunday issued a stern warning to India, asserting that Pakistan will respond decisively to any act of aggression just as it did during the brief but intense conflict in May this year, according to an Urdu daily.

The army chief’s remarks came during a luncheon held in honour of Jordan’s King Abdullah II, who arrived in Islamabad on a two-day State visit.

Speaking to the Urdu daily Daily Jang, Field Marshal Munir said, “During the war with India, Allah helped us raise our heads high. When a Muslim puts their trust in Allah, He turns the dirt thrown at the enemy into missiles.” He emphasized that Pakistan’s military actions are guided by divine command and that the nation’s soldiers fight in the name of Allah. “This army is an army of Allah, and our soldiers fight in His name,” the COAS stressed.

The statements reference the escalation of tensions in early May 2025, when an attack in Indian-occupied Kashmir’s Pahalgam prompted New Delhi to launch Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting sites inside Pakistan and causing civilian casualties. India accused Pakistan without presenting evidence, inflaming hostilities between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. In response, Pakistan launched Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, resulting in heavy artillery exchanges and drone strikes. A US-led mediation eventually brokered a ceasefire, ending the short-lived conflict.

Addressing the broader strategic context, Field Marshal Munir recalled his address at a passing out parade at the Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) in Kakul last month, in which he advised India’s military leadership that “there is no space for war in a nuclearised environment.” He further cautioned that Pakistan will never be intimidated or coerced by Indian rhetoric and will respond decisively, beyond proportions, to even minor provocations.

The COAS’s remarks underscore Pakistan’s unwavering posture on national defence, reflecting the military’s commitment to safeguarding the country’s sovereignty while emphasizing faith-guided discipline and readiness.

During the luncheon, King Abdullah II was briefed on Pakistan’s operational preparedness and defence capabilities, highlighting the strategic ties between the two countries. The event also reaffirmed the strong military-to-military cooperation and regional stability agenda shared by Pakistan and Jordan.

Field Marshal Munir’s statements come amid heightened regional sensitivities, emphasizing Pakistan’s firm deterrence stance while signalling a measured approach guided by strategic prudence and international norms.