Pakistan stands firm, no power can undermine us, says COAS Munir

Islamabad: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen. Asim Munir Thursday reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to safeguarding Pakistan against any attempts to sow chaos, declaring that no force can undermine the nation.

Speaking at the Ulema and Mashaikh Conference, Army chief said, "If anyone tries to create chaos in Pakistan, we will stand against them."

He emphasized that in Islam, the gravest sin is "fasad-fil-arz" (spreading mischief on earth), and stressed that Pakistan is dedicated to eradicating this threat.

"Those who do not abide by Sharia and the constitution, we do not consider them true Pakistanis," the COAS asserted.

Gen. Munir also highlighted Pakistan’s long-standing hospitality towards millions of Afghan refugees over the past 40 years. He urged them not to be swayed by extremist factions like the Khawarij, advising them to maintain cordial relations with Pakistan, a brotherly Islamic nation.

Acknowledging the immense sacrifices made by the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he stated, "Our Pashtun brothers and the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have borne great losses in the war against terrorism, and we stand with them, recognizing their courage."

The Army Chief underscored the importance of peaceful protests and rejected any form of extremism, quoting the Quran: "There is no compulsion in religion."

Addressing the sanctity of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW), Gen. Munir made it clear: "No one has the courage to disrespect the dignity of the Holy Prophet (SAW)."

He also pointed out that criminals and smuggling networks are fueling terrorism and spreading chaos through social media, stressing that "Pakistan is more important than our lives."

He urged religious scholars to promote unity and moderation, rejecting division and extremism. "Western civilization is not our ideal; we should take pride in our own heritage," he asserted.

Reflecting on the historical context, Gen. Munir questioned, "Those who claimed they had sunk the two-nation theory in the Bay of Bengal, where are they now?" He reiterated that "Kashmir remains an unfinished agenda of the subcontinent's partition."

Expressing concern over the situation in Palestine and Gaza, he lamented the ongoing atrocities and urged Pakistanis to learn from Palestine's struggles and protect their nation to ensure its strength and stability.