ISPR DG Dismisses Rumours of Asim Munir Becoming President

News Desk

Islamabad: The Director General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, has categorically dismissed speculation that Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir intends to assume the presidency of Pakistan, calling such reports “completely baseless” and “irresponsible.”

In an interview with The Economist, the army spokesperson firmly rejected political chatter linking the Chief of Army Staff to the country’s top civilian post. “These claims are irresponsible and purely fictional. Dragging the military into politics is dangerous and misleading,” he stated.

Lt Gen Chaudhry emphasised that Field Marshal Munir harbours no desire or intention to become president, and no such proposal is under discussion within the institution. “There is no plan, no interest, and no consideration of such a move,” he affirmed.

The military’s statement aligns with earlier denials from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who had also ruled out any such development.

Similarly, PML-N Senator Irfan Siddiqui clarified that neither Nawaz Sharif nor the party had ever considered nominating the Field Marshal for the presidency.

Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also weighed in last month, saying on social media platform X that there had been “no discussion nor any proposal for the president to resign or the COAS to assume that office.”

He labelled the rumour mill a part of a “nefarious campaign” aimed at targeting key state figures, including President Asif Ali Zardari.

Tensions with India: “This Time, We Will Start from the East”

In the same interview, the ISPR chief issued a stern warning to India amid heightened military tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

He cautioned that any future Indian aggression could provoke an “unconventional” and “preemptive” response from Pakistan.

“This time, we will start from the east,” Lt Gen Chaudhry said, hinting at a new military strategy that includes striking deep into Indian territory. “India needs to understand that they too can be targeted anywhere.”

He stressed that Pakistan would no longer limit itself to a reactive posture and would consider full-spectrum retaliation against any provocations.

The Pahalgam Incident and Escalation

The already strained Pakistan-India ties deteriorated further after the April 22 Pahalgam incident, which India blamed on Pakistan without presenting evidence. In retaliation, India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, downgraded diplomatic ties, cancelled Pakistani visas, and expelled Pakistani patients receiving treatment in India.

Pakistan responded by declaring the treaty’s suspension an act of war, reducing Indian diplomatic staff, closing its airspace to Indian flights, and halting all bilateral trade.

Operation Iron Wall

The conflict reached a new peak on the night of February 6–7, when India launched coordinated missile strikes on several Pakistani cities including Kotli, Bahawalpur, Muridke, Bagh, and Muzaffarabad. The attacks killed at least 26 civilians and wounded 46 others.

In retaliation, Pakistan shot down six Indian warplanes—three of them Rafale jets—and launched Operation Banyan Marsus (Iron Wall) on February 10. The operation targeted Indian military infrastructure including Udhampur, Pathankot, and Adampur airbases, as well as strategic assets like BrahMos missile storage sites and S-400 air defense systems.

US-Brokered Ceasefire, Denied by India

A ceasefire was eventually negotiated through back-channel diplomacy led by the Trump administration.

While President Donald Trump has publicly referenced the ceasefire over 30 times, highlighting his role in de-escalating the conflict, the Indian government has yet to officially acknowledge US mediation.

As tensions simmer, the ISPR’s latest statements underscore both Pakistan’s commitment to staying out of internal politics and its readiness to defend itself against external threats with heightened intensity.