The recent conferral of the Field Marshal’s baton on General Asim Munir in Pakistan is a coronation without a conquest. The move, for all its pomp, reveals more about Pakistan’s internal anxieties and strategic failures than any real military achievement.

Rather than reflecting battlefield success or visionary leadership, Munir’s promotion is a desperate attempt by the military establishment to mask operational debacles, consolidate power amid domestic turmoil, and double down on a longstanding policy of hostility towards India.

Typically, the title of Field Marshal is bestowed upon generals who have steered their nations to historic victories or displayed exceptional strategic brilliance. Munir’s ascent, however, comes at a moment when Pakistan’s military credibility has been severely battered — owing to India’s Operation Sindoor. Far from being a celebration of any triumph, his promotion is designed to shore up sagging morale within the ranks and distract the public into further disillusionment.

Pakistan today faces crises on multiple fronts — not only from external embarrassment but also from deep internal turmoil. The economy is under severe strain, insurgencies continue to simmer in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and the army’s once-unquestioned authority is now challenged by the public. The jailing of former Prime Minister Imran Khan and the unrest that followed have only heightened the sense of instability. In this context, Munir’s elevation is not a reward for merit but a manoeuvre to consolidate his personal authority and reinstate the military’s grip on Pakistan’s narrative.

General Asim Munir’s tenure as Pakistan’s army chief has been defined not by military innovation, but by a sustained campaign of anti-India rhetoric and provocation. Long........

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