Army Chief draws a clear line
ISLAMABAD – Since assuming office, Pakistan’s Army Chief, General Syed Asim Munir, has projected institutional authority while steering clear of interviews and the media visibility embraced by some of his predecessors. He has not sat for conversations with journalists, editors, or television talk show hosts. His presence has been more about decisions than declarations.
That quietude made his recent speech at the Overseas Pakistanis Convention in Islamabad all the more notable.
It came just days after his appearance at the Pakistan Minerals Summit — another rare instance of public engagement — signalling a deliberate, perhaps evolving, communication strategy from a leader known more for restraint than visibility.
The setting was formal — a government-organized gathering, attended by members of the diaspora. The general spoke from behind a podium, his delivery forceful and composed. He praised expatriates for their contributions, both financial and symbolic, and described them as bearers of Pakistan’s values abroad.
He then turned to familiar themes: the resilience of the state, the threat of militancy, the sanctity of national institutions. He spoke of social media, cautioning against misinformation. He stressed on ideo-logical clarity, invoking Pakistan’s founding principles — a reference that was both historical and gently instructional.
General Munir’s remarks were not sweeping in rhetoric, nor charged with political commentary. Still, they carried weight. This was not a routine institutional address. It was one of his most visible public engagements since assuming command in late 2022 — and its timing and audience were telling.
Since the ouster of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, many overseas Pakistanis have become sharply critical of the political arrangement back home, especially of the Establishment’s perceived role in shaping it. Rallies outside consulates, trending hashtags, and online campaigns have turned segments of the diaspora into a vocal bloc of dissent. Much of this has been emotionally charged, and often di-rected squarely at the Establishment.
That General Munir chose this forum — and not a press conference or domestic event — seemed in-tentional and the message was clear: the military remains the guarantor of state continuity.
Pakistan’s Army Chiefs have long occupied a singular position in national life, shaped by history and precedent. Their public profiles have varied, reflecting both personal temperament and political con-text.
General Pervez Musharraf, flamboyant and with a certain swagger, relished the public eye. As both Army Chief and later President, he delivered sharp, sometimes combative speeches and routinely en-gaged with the press. General Qamar Javed Bajwa, particularly in his second term, was a dominant presence in public discourse — often cited, frequently visible, and deeply embedded in the political conversation. Others preferred opacity. The inscrutable General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani rarely spoke publicly, cultivating a mystique of detachment while remaining deeply influential behind closed doors.
General Raheel Sharif, by contrast, rarely gave public speeches, other than at events like Martyrs’ Day. His presence was more visual than verbal, defined by carefully curated photographs from field visits, frontline inspections, and troop interactions. His public image leaned heavily on optics rather than rhetoric.
General Munir is carving his own rhythm — discipline over display. His rare public appearances suggest a belief in calibrated communication, and his speech fit that pattern. There was a steady reaffirmation of institutional unity, and a framing of patriotism that called for cohesion rather than contest.
He spoke, too, of Balochistan — a recurring flashpoint in national security discourse— making clear that its future lies firmly with Pakistan, declaring that even “ten generations” of militants could not al-ter that.
He warned against efforts to create rifts within the armed forces, calling such attempts hostile to the state. And he reminded the audience of the ideological underpinnings of Pakistan’s creation, suggest-ing that national clarity begins with historical understanding.
Within the context of civil-military dynamics — and given the sharpness of public opinion, especially abroad — the speech was carefully crafted and delivered. It was not only about what was said, but how, when, and to whom.
Whether General Munir intends to step further into the public sphere remains unclear. Army Chiefs in Pakistan tend to choose their moments carefully. Some remain voices behind the curtain. Others be-come fixtures of national discourse. General Munir’s approach, so far, suggests a preference for selec-tive visibility — purposeful when it appears, and silent when it does not need to speak.
In a country where words can quickly turn combustible, General Munir chose his carefully — but not softly. The message was clear, the tone deliberate, and the delivery forceful.
– Salman Masood is the Editor of The Nation.
