Tag: COAS

Indian netizens were left fuming when United States (US) President Donald Trump hosted Prime Minister (PM) of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Field Marshal Asim Munir at the White House’s Oval Office early Friday.

The meeting, which lasted more than an hour, was closed for the press.

A statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) after the meeting said that the US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were also present, adding that the meeting was held in a pleasant atmosphere.

Speaking during the meeting, the premier praised the US leader’s bold, courageous, and decisive actions had helped facilitate the ceasefire between Pakistan and India, thereby averting what he called a potential “major catastrophe” in South Asia. 

Minutes before the meeting, the US president spoke to the media, calling PM Shehbaz and Field Marshal Munir “great” people. “We’ve got the prime minister of Pakistan coming and the field marshal … [he’s] a great, great guy and so is the prime minister, both,” he said.

The conflict between the two countries erupted following the April 22 Pahalgam incident in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), which killed 26 people. New Delhi accused Islamabad of orchestrating the attack, which the Islamabad vehemently rejected.

On the night of May 6-7, India launched strikes in Pakistan’s cities, including Bahawalpur and Muridke. In response, Pakistan shot down India’s six fighter jets, including three 4.5 French-made Rafales. The 88-hour-long conflict ended after the US intervened and announced a ceasefire between Pakistan and India on May 10.

The formal bilateral interaction between both countries’ leaders, which came after six years, has ruffled many Indian feathers. 

“‘HAND-OUT’ CULTURE!” said Indian anchor Rahul Shivshankar on X (formerly Twitter), while sharing a picture featuring President Trump cordially shaking hands with the Pakistani premier, with COAS Field Marshal General Munir standing beside the US president, smiling.

Editor of Asian News Network (ANI) Smita Prakash, a known anti-Pakistan troll, captioned a photo “51st state”. A social media user in the comments section couldn’t control his frustration, writing, “Unofficial 51st state. Pakistan would be delighted if they were made one officially”.

Many Indians, smarting from America’s sudden tough policies and penalties on India, wrote: “Snakes in [the] USA’s front yard. Not the first time leaders of a terrorist state have got audience with [the] US President.” Another one wrote that the meeting was “pathetic”.

A netizen described the interaction of both countries’ leaders a “nightmare”. “American leader injecting himself with the worlds deadliest virus… beyond redemption…We are, remember this, paying the Price for adhering to their request or command of abruptly shelving op sindoor back in May 2025! Everything is the root cause of that event irrespective of what any of the so-called experts would like you to believe !!! Once you bend, D [The] humiliation never ends!!!!!(sic).” One troll users put his anger in words: “This is the MAGA [Make America Great Again] in making during Trump’s tenure. Good luck America.”

Meanwhile, one user lamented that “President Trump was dreaming [of having] Modi on one side of this picture. But despite doing all the tactics that the dream picture could not come to reality.”

A practical netizen praised Pakistan’s foreign policy, describing it as “professionally a good job.” “It’s ridiculous, of course, but I cannot stop and wonder about the brilliance of the mandarins in the Foreign Ministry in Pakistan who have done an exceedingly good job for their country. They shouldn’t succeed but, professionally, it’s a good job,” he stated.

The American magazine The National Interest has highlighted that Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir’s steady and consistent approach has resonated well with US President Donald Trump.

“Widely regarded as a steady hand in an often turbulent region, Munir’s consistency in both strategic outlook and messaging appealed to Trump’s craving for predictability beneath the theatrics,” read the magazine’s article published on August 26.

The magazine maintained that for years, India sat comfortably in Washington’s “good graces”, however, “the script began to flip”, when President Trump praised Pakistan for counter-terrorism cooperation during his first joint address to Congress on March 05, 2025.

The magazine maintained that following General Munir’s meeting with President Trump in White House in late June, the relationship between both countries “flowered”, adding, “a month later, Trump doubled down on his new ‘bromance’ with General Munir, while touting great economic deals with Pakistan,” distancing himself from India by punishing it economically as the US imposed massive 50 percent tariffs on Indian goods.

After Pakistan shot down Indian fighter jets in early May, the magazine says Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi came under domestic pressure and he might attempt choking off the Indus River and its tributaries, which flow from Northern India into Pakistan, to avenge, an act Islamabad has already clarified would be considered an act of war. 

The magazine said that when Indian premier Modi launched an attack on Pakistan in May in the wake of the April 22 Pahalgam incident in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), he intended to demonstrate Indian military superiority; however, “the gamble partially backfired” when Pakistan downed a number of Indian fighter jets in the ensuing dogfights before agreeing to a ceasefire.

Pakistan has claimed to have shot down six Indian fighter jets, including Rafales, on the night of May 6-7, when the latter launched strikes in Pakistan, killing civilians.

In an interview with Bloomberg Television during the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore earlier June, India’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Anil Chauhan, had admitted that Indian aircraft were downed during the May conflict with Pakistan.

Earlier reports suggesting that President Asif Ali Zardari was asked to step down and that Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir intended to assume the presidency have been dismissed as “mere speculation” by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Speaking to The News, PM Shehbaz clarified that there was no truth to the reports circulating in the media.

Media reports suggest that it all started with a couple of journalists “revealing” on social media that a plan was underway to remove Zardari from the Presidency for allegedly leaking the specific meeting conversation regarding the plan to build new Canals from the Indus River.

Others claim the rumours began circulating after the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) obtained a simple majority in the National Assembly (NA) after the reinstatement of reserved seats by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) following the top court’s Constitutional Bench verdict.

“Field Marshal Asim Munir has never expressed any desire to become the president, nor is there any such plan in the offing,” The News quoted the premier as saying.

He emphasised that the trio of President Zardari, Field Marshal Asim Munir, and himself share a relationship built on mutual respect and a common goal, the progress and prosperity of Pakistan.

This comes days after Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi had also firmly rebuffed such rumours.

 
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, Naqi wrote that “we are fully aware” of who is behind the “malicious campaign” targeting the president, the premier and the army chief.

 
“I have categorically stated that there has been no discussion, nor does any such idea exist, about the President being asked to resign or the COAS aspiring to assume the presidency,” he clarified.

 
Naqvi underscored that the President enjoys a strong and respectful relationship with the Armed Forces’ leadership. “I know who is spreading these falsehoods, why they are doing so, and who stands to benefit from this propaganda,” he quoted Zardari as saying. 

 
The interior minister emphasised that the sole focus of the COAS is the strength and stability of Pakistan, “nothing else”.

 
“To those involved in this narrative, do whatever you wish in collaboration with hostile foreign agencies. As for us, we will do whatever is necessary to make Pakistan strong again, InshAllah (sic),” he said.

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir asserted on Thursday that water is Pakistan’s “red line”, emphasising that Islamabad will not tolerate any threat to this basic right of its 240 million citizens.

New Delhi unilaterally suspended the long-standing Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) after the April 22 Pahalgam attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), which left 26 people dead.

India blamed Pakistan for the terror incident, but has not provided any evidence to support its claims.

India also threatened to block Pakistan’s share of water under the treaty. However, Islamabad has maintained that any attempt to block or divert its allocated water will be considered “an act of war.”

Pakistan’s position on the matter remains firm. Earlier this month, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif warned during a television appearance that Pakistan would strike down against any structure built to block the flow of water in violation of the IWT.

“If they attempt to construct such a structure, we will strike and destroy it,” the defence minister stated.
“Aggression is not only carried out through artillery shells or gunfire. It has many forms and phases. [Stopping the water] is also a phase of aggression. Such actions can lead nations to die from hunger and thirst,” he asserted.

Speaking at the Army Auditorium, during an interaction with participants of ‘Hilal Talks’, the field marshal clarified that Pakistan would never accept India’s hegemony.

“Educators are the biggest asset of Pakistan. What I am today is because of my parents and teachers. Educators bear the responsibility to build the character of Pakistan’s future generations. You (educators) must pass on Pakistan’s story to the next generations,” he said.

Field Marshal Munir also asserted that Pakistan would never compromise on Kashmir, emphasising that India must understand Pakistan will neither forget nor abandon the issue.

He underscored that it is no longer possible for New Delhi to suppress the Kashmir dispute as it is a global issue.

The field marshal rejected India’s accusations of terrorism against Pakistan, stating that terrorism is an internal issue for India, driven primarily by increasing oppression and discrimination against minorities, especially Muslims.

He highlighted that India backed terrorists of “Fitnah-al-Hindustan” in Balochistan, noting that they have no connection with Balochs.

COAS Field Marshal called for Pakistan to be made a strong state where all institutions work under the law and Constitution without any political pressure, financial and personal gains, or for the welfare of the people.

A delegation of the United States (US) Congress, led by Jack Bergman called on Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir and discussed a range of issues of mutual interest.

Thomas Souzzi and Jonathan Jackson were also part of the US delegation that met with General Asim Munir at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi.

“Both sides reaffirmed the importance of sustained engagement based on mutual respect, shared values, and converging strategic interests,” reads the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement issued on Sunday.

The statement further reads that the visiting U.S. lawmakers commended the Pakistan Armed Forces for their pivotal role in combating terrorism and acknowledged Pakistan’s enduring contributions to regional peace and stability. They also expressed deep appreciation for Pakistan’s resilience and the strategic potential of its people.

The U.S. congressional delegation underscored their respect for Pakistan’s sovereignty, conveying a strong commitment to advancing broad-based bilateral cooperation, particularly in the domains of security, trade, investment, and economic development.

The ISPR statement further reads, “General Syed Asim Munir conveyed his appreciation to the delegation for their visit and reiterated Pakistan’s desire to further deepen and diversify its longstanding partnership with the United States in a manner that is mutually beneficial and respectful of each other’s national interests.

During the meeting, Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were also signed for training collaboration in the field of Information Technology.”

The congressional delegation had earlier held an important meeting with Federal Minister for Interior Mohsin Naqvi in Islamabad. During the meeting, the Interior Minister emphasised the country’s role in the fight against terrorism, saying, “Pakistan stands as a wall between terrorism and the rest of the world”.

According to media reports, both sides discussed ways to strengthen cooperation in the areas of economy, trade, and investment. They also talked about issues related to security, counterterrorism, and border management.

Speaking on the occasion, Naqvi termed the menace of terrorism a “global challenge” and said that the international community must extend full cooperation to Pakistan. “Intelligence and technology sharing in the domain of counter-terrorism is of utmost importance,” he added.

The minister further said that Pakistan’s immense sacrifices against terrorism are unmatched in the global context, noting that the visit of US congressmen will be crucial in highlighting Pakistan’s unprecedented role in the fight against terrorism.

The delegation underscored the need to highlight Pakistan’s role in the war against terrorism, claiming that the Pakistani community residing in the US is very talented and hardworking.

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir has denied receiving any letter from incarcerated former premier Imran Khan.

In a formal conversation with the media on Thursday, the Army chief, while alluding to the jailed Imran Khan’s open letter, said that he would not “read it [the letter] even if I receive it.”

He maintained that he would forward any such communication to Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif if he received it.

“Pakistan is moving forward, and Pakistan has to move forward,” the army chief said.

The clarification comes a day after Imran Khan’s lawyer, Faisal Chaudhry, claimed that the PTI founder had written a third letter to the army chief.

On February 3, Chaudhry, while speaking to the media outside Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, had stated, “Imran Khan, as a party supremo and former premier, has written a six-point letter to the army chief, expressing solidarity with the military in its fight against terrorism, and acknowledging the sacrifices made by our soldiers.”

According to Chaudhry, Khan’s letter maintained that the entire nation was standing with its armed forces and also highlighted for Gen Munir the issue of “fraudulent elections,” the controversial Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), the 26th Amendment, and the Al-Qadir Trust case verdict against him.

On February 8, party sources claimed Khan had written a second letter, this time complaining about the reaction to the first letter, among other things.

“I wrote an open letter to you with sincere intentions for the betterment of the nation… However, the response I received was highly unserious and irresponsible [sic],” read a statement on Khan’s official X handle.

In the second letter, Khan reportedly went on to write a series of complaints to General Asim Munir. “I was placed in solitary confinement under extreme conditions for 20 days… in a cell where even sunlight could not reach. For five days, my cell’s electricity was cut off, leaving me in complete darkness,” he claimed.

“My exercise equipment and television were confiscated and I was denied access to newspapers… apart from those 20 days, I was also kept in solitary for 40 hours,” he said and added that he had only been allowed to talk to his sons three times over the past six months, despite a court order allowing him to contact his children regularly.

On February 12, Faisal Chaudhry said in a statement, “The PTI founder, in his letter to the army chief, has raised the issue of giving preference to the minority over the majority through election fraud.”

Adiala Jail superintendent Abdul Ghafoor Anjum has revealed that Imran Khan, the incarcerated founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has not written a letter from jail to any one. 

Speaking to Jang newspaper, Anjum stressed that if any detainee or convict writes a letter from jail, the prison administration reviews its contents. Imran Khan did not send any letter from jail to the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir or the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi, he said.

On Monday, Imran Khan’s lawyer Faisal Chaudhry claimed that the jailed former prime minister (PM) had written a six-point letter to General Syed Asim Munir.

“Imran Khan, as party supremo and former premier, has written a six-point letter to the army chief, expressing solidarity with the military in its fight against terrorism, and acknowledging the sacrifices made by our soldiers,” Chaudhry had said while speaking to media outside Adiala Jail Rawalpindi.

Chaudhry said Khan’s letter maintained that the entire nation was standing with its armed forces and also highlighted the issue of “fraudulent elections”, the controversial Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) and 26th amendments besides the Al-Qadir Trust case verdict against him.

Security sources on Tuesday had confirmed that the army chief didn’t receive any letter, Geo News reported.

The jail superintendent explained that if any detainee wishes to write a letter, he/she must obtain pen and paper from the prison administration. The letter will then be submitted to the prison superintendent, who, under jail rules section 565, will read it to ensure that it does not contain any message related to incitement, terrorism, public disorder, or harm to anyone. Only then is the letter permitted to be sent to the recipient.

Anjum stated that convicted detainees are allowed two meetings per week; however, if they write one letter a week, then prisoners are allowed only one meeting. Imran Khan, however, is granted three meetings per week. 

Likewise, if a letter arrives for any detainee from outside the prison, it is also the responsibility of the prison superintendent to review and censor its contents, he further explained.

The jail superintendent dismissed the claims that former First Lady Bushra Bibi was put in solitary confinement, noting that a prisoner was only sent to solitary confinement following the court orders.