Govt confers Field Marshal rank on COAS Asim Munir

Islamabad: In a historic ceremony held at Aiwan-e-Sadr on Thursday, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif jointly awarded the rank of field marshal to Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) Syed Asim Munir. This is the highest military rank in the Pakistan Army, above the rank of general.

The decision to promote General Munir was made by the federal cabinet earlier in the week during a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The government recognized his outstanding leadership during recent military tensions with India and for leading the successful “Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos.”

Speaking at the special investiture ceremony, PM Shehbaz Sharif described the moment as one of “profound national pride and historic importance.” He praised Field Marshal Asim Munir and other top military leaders — Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu, and Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf — for their bravery and leadership.

“You have led our brave armed forces to a remarkable victory against an enemy caught in its own arrogance,” the prime minister said. “Not only did our forces defend the country’s borders, but they also struck deep inside enemy territory. The aggressor was forced to retreat and accept a ceasefire.”