RAWALPINDI: Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, NI (M), Chief of Army Staff (COAS), visited the National Defence University (NDU) in Islamabad today, where he delivered a keynote address to the graduating officers of the National Security and War Course, comprising participants from all military services.
During his address, the Army Chief emphasized the evolving nature of warfare and the critical importance of mental preparedness, operational clarity, and institutional professionalism in addressing multifaceted strategic challenges. He praised NDU for its pivotal role in strengthening civil-military cohesion and cultivating leadership equipped to counter hybrid, conventional, and sub-conventional threats with composure and precision.
Field Marshal Munir drew a stark contrast between Pakistan’s military conduct and that of India, referencing India’s failure to achieve its objectives in Operation Sindoor. He dismissed Indian claims of external support in Pakistan’s Operation Bunyanum Marsoos as baseless, labeling them an evasion of accountability and a denial of Pakistan’s indigenous capabilities and institutional strength developed over decades. He criticised India’s attempts to frame the conflict in broader geopolitical terms, calling it an effort to maintain its flawed narrative as a “net security provider” in a region increasingly disillusioned by its hegemonic and extremist Hindutva ideology.
The Army Chief reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to regional stability through principled diplomacy and enduring partnerships grounded in mutual respect. He cautioned, however, that any misadventure or violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty would be met with a swift, decisive, and proportionate response. “Any attack on our population centres, military installations, or economic assets will trigger a deeply hurting and more-than-reciprocal retaliation,” he asserted, placing the responsibility for escalation squarely on the “strategically blind and arrogant aggressor.”
Field Marshal Munir underscored that wars are not won through rhetoric, imported hardware, or populist slogans, but through faith, professionalism, and national resolve. He expressed full confidence in the operational readiness and morale of Pakistan’s battle-hardened armed forces and urged the graduating officers to uphold the highest standards of integrity, selfless service, and unwavering loyalty to the nation.
On arrival, the COAS was warmly received by the President of the National Defence University.
