New Delhi: Field Marshal Asim Munir, Pakistan’s army chief since May 2025, has articulated a markedly aggressive posture towards India, suggesting a strategic shift that could significantly escalate military tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours.
According to General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, a spokesman for Pakistan’s military, Munir intends to deepen military strikes into Indian territory in future conflicts, with a specific warning that attacks will start “from the east” — a notable deviation from the traditionally Kashmir-centric confrontation zones.
This eastern focus hints at a possible opening of a new front through India’s eastern corridor, potentially involving Bangladesh, following shifts in Dhaka’s political landscape that have introduced Islamist hardline influences more sympathetic to Pakistan.
The porous borders and fragile security situation in north-eastern Indian states like Assam and Tripura create vulnerabilities that Pakistan could exploit, potentially through proxy warfare, sleeper cells, and irregular forces supported via Bangladesh-based jihadi networks. This multi-front approach aims to stretch Indian military resources and complicate their defensive strategy by forcing New Delhi to divide its attention and forces.
Munir’s rhetoric has escalated beyond tactical military considerations into ideological framing. In his incendiary speech on April 16—days before the Pahalgam terror attack—he openly differentiated Hindus and Muslims as fundamentally distinct and declared Kashmir the “jugular vein of Pakistan,” framing the conflict in existential terms and vowing unwavering support for Kashmiri struggles.
These declarations, seen as both a response to the rise of Hindu nationalism in India and a bold nationalistic posture, underline Munir’s readiness to pursue an aggressive military and ideological agenda.
His approach contrasts starkly with that of his predecessor, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, who favoured quieter diplomacy. Munir appears more inclined toward escalation and direct confrontation; for example, he notably resisted international diplomatic pressure after India’s punitive air strikes during Operation Sindoor, which targeted terror camps and airbases in Pakistan following terrorist attacks in Kashmir.
The Pakistan military under Munir has rejected Modi’s warnings that future terror attacks on Indian soil will be met with decisive military retaliation, instead asserting Pakistan’s preparedness to retaliate with broader, multi-directional strikes.
Domestically, Munir’s power is consolidated and growing. Promoted to the rare rank of Field Marshal, a title last given to a military dictator in Pakistan, he commands immense influence over the military-backed government, colloquially referred to as “Asim Law” — implying military dominance without formal imposition of martial law.
Despite speculation about possible ambitions for the presidency, his spokesperson has dismissed such claims. His appeal is bolstered by his unique background as the son of an imam, Madrasa education, and first army chief not trained in the West, aligning his ideological leanings closer to conservative Islamic values while claiming opposition to jihadist groups within Pakistan. His leadership comes amid criticism for political interference and authoritarian tendencies domestically.
On the international front, Munir is recalibrating Pakistan’s strategic alliances. With renewed American engagement exemplified by meetings with US President Trump and high military honours awarded to US commanders, Munir is acquiring diplomatic cover and strategic confidence. Pakistan simultaneously insists that closer US ties do not undermine its traditional alliance with China, though such balancing acts could cause strategic tensions. Munir’s enhanced external relationships may further empower his assertive stance against India and embolden Pakistan’s military posture in the region.
The evolving security environment is thus marked by Munir’s willingness to engage in a riskier, multi-front strategy extending beyond Kashmir to India’s eastern borders, exploitation of new geopolitical axes in South Asia, and intensified proxy and hybrid warfare. This approach contrasts with India’s recent military paradigm shift exemplified by Operation Sindoor — a demonstration of conventional and technological superiority coupled with a declared policy of swift retaliatory strikes against terrorism stemming from Pakistan. Indian intelligence and military have reportedly increased vigilance on the eastern frontier in response to these threats, while diplomatic efforts continue to isolate Pakistan’s proxies regionally.
The implications of Munir’s doctrine and power consolidation are grave for South Asian stability. His open threat to strike “from the east” and warning that India “can be hit everywhere” underscore an expanded theatre of conflict possibility. Should these gambits escalate into full-blown hostilities, the risk of broader destabilisation is high, given both countries’ nuclear capabilities and the heightened nationalism and hardening of adversarial stances on both sides.
Asim Munir’s leadership signals a strategic pivot in Pakistan’s military posture toward India, with a focus on multi-dimensional and asymmetrical conflict initiated from the eastern frontiers, bolstered by ideological rhetoric, domestic authoritarian consolidation, and renewed international diplomacy. This marks a departure from previous military doctrines and poses significant challenges to peace and security in South Asia.
