Field Marshal Asim Munir while addressing the cadets on the eve of their passing out parade at the Military Academy Kakul last Friday minced no words regarding how Pakistan viewed the emerging security situation in the region and what would be its response to any provocation or acts of aggression by India and her Afghan proxies who were carrying out acts of terrorism within Pakistan.
He forcefully reiterated the new normal of Pakistan in the most vehement and unequivocal terms that echoed the sentiments of the entire Pakistani nation by saying “Should a fresh wave of hostilities be triggered, Pakistan would respond much beyond the expectations of the adversary. With diminishing distinction between combat and communication zones, the reach and lethality of our weapon systems will shatter the misconceived immunity of India’s geographic vastness. The deeply hurting retributive military and economic losses inflicted will be much beyond the imagination and calculations of the perpetrators of chaos and instability”.
In an obvious response to the bellicose rhetoric by the Indian Army Chief he firmly reiterated “I advise and firmly caution the Indian military leadership that there is ‘No Space for War’ in a nuclearized environment. Settle the core issues with Pakistan as per the international norms, on the basis of equality and mutual respect. We will never be intimidated nor coerced by your rhetoric and shall respond decisively beyond proportions to even a minor provocation without any qualms. The onus of ensuing escalation, one that may ultimately bear catastrophic consequences for the entire region and beyond, will squarely lie with India.”
Similarly he also sounded a warning to the Afghan regime and the terrorist entities. “Be rest assured that like our victory in the conventional domain, every state proxy of our neighbour will be razed to dust, Insha Allah. Like we stood firm against a much larger adversary, we shall persevere and never bow before a handful of misguided terrorists having perverted interpretation of Islam. Rest assured that Pakistan is a peace loving nation and shall ensure peace within and peace without.”
I think it would be hard for anybody to take an issue with his assertions that Pakistan’s prestige has been enhanced at the global level through the diplomatic triumph— a reference to the role played by Pakistan in securing the Gaza ceasefire as well as due to the capabilities of its armed forces in defending the country against any aggression as was manifest during the recent conflicts with India, particularly the one during May this year in response to Indian attack in the back-drop of false-flag operation at Pahlgam.
In the meantime, through intervention by Turkiye and Qatar, the two sides have held a dialogue at Doha to defuse the situation. The outcome of the talks is that both sides will immediately end hostilities; terrorism from Afghanistan soil against Pakistan will stop immediately and Afghanistan has pledged no support to groups operating from its soil. It represents acceptance of Pakistan’s stance on the issue. Further talks to thrash out the modalities to implement these decisions would be held in Istanbul on 25th October. The significant aspect of this agreement is that it has torpedoed Indian designs to pit Afghanistan against Pakistan and use it for proxy war, at least for now.
Equally uncontestable was his claim that ” Ever since creation of Pakistan, the Armed Forces with full support of the nation have defended the external and internal frontiers of this great country with unflinching resolve, conviction and pride. The most recent display of the spirit and resolve of the Armed Forces of Pakistan during Maarqa-e-Haq, Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos has further strengthened the trust and confidence of the people of Pakistan on competence and far reaching capabilities of its Armed Forces. By neutralizing all threats with remarkable professionalism, downing advanced assets like Rafael, targeting multiple bases including S-400s and showcasing multi- domain warfare capabilities, Pakistan has displayed its capabilities and will to defend.”
He also announced the unswerving and abiding commitment of the armed forces to defend Pakistan in these words “We men in uniform shall always remain ready and arrayed to support the progress and prosperity of the people and the state of Pakistan and defend the ideological and physical frontiers of this great country. Allah indeed loves those who fight in His Way in ranks as though they were a solid wall (Surah As-Saff: 4).” It was indeed very re-assuring for the whole nation which views Pakistan army as guardian of ideological and physical frontiers of the country and appreciates the sacrifices given by the security forces in thwarting nefarious designs of enemies and tackling terrorism which poses existentialist threat to Pakistan.His address was not entirely focused on Indian aggression and terrorism emanating from Afghanistan but he also used the occasion to reiterate Pakistan’s credentials as a peace loving nation by citing example of participation of Pakistan armed forces in the UN peace keeping missions and ever spiking relations with Saudi Arabia and China besides reiterating Pakistan’s stance on Palestinian situation and Indian-Occupied Kashmir highlighting Indian atrocities and machinations to defy UN resolutions. It was an all-encompassing narration of Pakistan’s foreign policy on regional security issues as well as its role in the changing global environment.
We have already witnessed the impact of the new normal in case of the indiscretion committed by the Taliban government of attacking security posts of Pakistan. The response given by Pakistan in line with its new approach to the situation and the relentless operations against Fitna-ul-Khawarij and Fitnaul Hindustan jolted the Afghan Taliban to the core and made them realize their mistake of committing aggression against Pakistan at the behest of its archenemy India. They appealed for an immediate ceasefire and Pakistan accepted their request by stopping hostilities for 48 hours.
In the meantime, through intervention by Turkiye and Qatar, the two sides have held a dialogue at Doha to defuse the situation. The outcome of the talks is that both sides will immediately end hostilities; terrorism from Afghanistan soil against Pakistan will stop immediately and Afghanistan has pledged no support to groups operating from its soil. It represents acceptance of Pakistan’s stance on the issue. Further talks to thrash out the modalities to implement these decisions would be held in Istanbul on 25th October. The significant aspect of this agreement is that it has torpedoed Indian designs to pit Afghanistan against Pakistan and use it for proxy war, at least for now.
