Seen from a purely Pakistani perspective, the elevation of General Syed Asim Munir to the rank of Field Marshal may seem like a justified tribute to a military hero. He is the first to receive this rank, traditionally reserved for extraordinary wartime leadership, though General Ayub Khan had once awarded it to himself. In a carefully choreographed move, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took the initiative, secured cabinet approval, and obtained President Asif Zardari’s assent. According to Pakistan’s official narrative, the honour was conferred for “vanquishing the enemy” in what is now dubbed the “Battle for Truth”. May 10, the day a ceasefire was agreed upon between India and Pakistan, will henceforth be observed annually........

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