HISTORY has a curious way of drawing parallels across centuries, linking men of destiny whose courage and conviction transcend time. More than eight hundred years apart, two commanders — Sultan Muhammad Ghauri and Field Marshal General Syed Asim Munir — stood in moments of national trial and triumph, defending faith, honour and sovereignty against formidable adversaries. Though separated by centuries, the essence of their missions and the spirit of their victories reveal a striking resemblance; both Chief faced India as the principal foe, both emerged victorious through strategy and perseverance and both carried the banner of a Muslim commander whose faith guided his sword.

In the late 12th century, Sultan Muhammad Ghauri, the ruler of Ghor in present-day Afghanistan, rose from the rugged mountains to become the founder of Muslim rule in northern India. His historic encounter with Prithvi Raj Chauhan, the ruler of Ajmer and Delhi, marked a turning point in the subcontinent’s destiny. The First Battle of Tarain, fought in 1191, saw Ghauri defeated and wounded. But rather than surrendering to despair, he returned the following year — 1192 — with renewed resolve, reorganized forces and divine faith. On the plains near Tarain once more, he crushed the Rajput confederacy and captured Prithvi Raj Chauhan. The victory at Tarain was not merely a military conquest; it opened the gates of India to centuries of Muslim rule and civilizational synthesis.

Eight centuries later, another commander from the soil of Pakistan mirrored this determination and strategic brilliance. On the nights of 8 and 9 May 2025, when India sought to........

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