Munir was born in Rawalpindi, Pakistan in 1968[2] into a Muslim family,[10][11] with their roots lying in Jalandhar, Punjab, India, from where his parents migrated following the 1947 partition of India. They moved to Toba Tek Singh before settling down in Rawalpindi's Dheri Hassanabad. His father Syed Sarwar Munir Shah was the principal of the FG Technical High School, Lalkurti, Rawalpindi and the imam of a mosque, Masjid-al-Quraish, situated in a locality of Dheri Hassanabad, where he often delivered the Friday sermon. Munir has two brothers.[12] Munir got his early religious education in a traditional Islamic seminary in Rawalpindi, the Markazi Madrasah Dar-ul-Tajweed, in his youth also being a local cricketer as a fast bowler.[13]
He was appointed Director-General of Military Intelligence in early 2017.[15] He was awarded the Hilal-i-Imtiazin March 2018.[16] Munir was appointed the DG-ISI on 25 October 2018.[17] He served in this capacity until 16 June 2019, a tenure of eight months, which was probably one of the shortest in the office. He was subsequently appointed as corps commander of XXX Corps.[18] From 2021 to November 2022, Lt-General Munir was posted at GHQ as the Quartermaster General of Pakistan Army.[14]
In November 2022, Munir was promoted to the four-star general rank and appointed as the Chief of the Army Staff of the Pakistan Army.[19] Munir was scheduled to retire on 27 November 2022.[20][21] Before his appointment as Chief of Army Staff (COAS), he submitted his retirement application which was subsequently rejected by the Ministry of Defense, he was informed that the government had decided to retain him in service.[22] Following consultations between Shehbaz Sharif and his brother, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Munir was appointed the new COAS on 24 November 2022, just three days before his planned retirement. The recommendation for Munir's appointment as COAS was forwarded by the then Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, to the then President Arif Alvi on 24 November 2022. Alvi approved it on the same day, officially extending Munir's service for a term of three years.[22] Munir assumed the role of COAS on 29 November 2022, two days after his initially scheduled retirement.[23] Munir's selection as COAS was from a pool of six eligible candidates. His appointment was widely perceived as strategic.[24] Munir is the first army chief of Pakistan who has previously headed both the Military Intelligence and Inter-Services Intelligence.[5]
In November 2024, Asim Munir's tenure as Army Chief was extended from three to five years after Pakistan’s ruling coalition swiftly passed a bill with little debate. The controversial move sparked protests from PTI lawmakers, who accused the government of bypassing democratic processes and suppressing opposition voices. Despite the backlash, the extension secured Munir’s position until November 2027. It took 16 minutes for the senate to pass the amendment into law, which Khan's party lawmaker Omar Ayub termed as bulldozing the legislation by the ruling alliance without any debate in either house.[26][27]
Handling of political crisis
In May 2023, Imran Khan was arrested in connection with a corruption case.[28] Following his arrest, nationwide protests erupted, leading to the May 9 riots; the violence subsided only after Khan was released by the Supreme Court of Pakistan.[29] After his release on bail, Khan criticised Munir, accusing him of "dismantling the future of this country [Pakistan] to protect himself."[30]
Munir visited the locations affected by the riots, including military installations and Jinnah House, laid floral wreaths at the Martyrs' Monument, and paid tribute to the army and police personnel killed during the unrest. He vowed that such orchestrated incidents against the army and the nation would never be allowed again, emphasised the army's professionalism and preparedness, and assured full support to law enforcement agencies.[31] He announced that the "legal process of trial against planners, instigators, abettors and perpetrators involved in the May 9 tragedy has commenced under Pakistan Army Act and Official Secret Act".[32]
In March 2025, Reps. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) and Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.) introduced the bipartisan "Pakistan Democracy Act," seeking sanctions on Munir for persecuting political opponents, including Khan. The bill, invoking the Global Magnitsky Act, demanded sanctions within 180 days.[33]
Handling of economic crisis
During the Kakar caretaker government's nationwide crackdown on illegal dollar trading, unlawful money transfers, and hoarding and smuggling of commodities such as wheat, sugar, and Iranian petroleum products, Munir, as Chief of Army Staff, played a prominent role in state-level coordination. He pledged to continue measures against smuggling and other illicit activities while ensuring accountability for those involved, including security personnel.[34] Following these measures, the Pakistani rupee rebounded from record lows and became the world’s best-performing currency in September 2023.[35]
The same month, in meetings with business leaders, he emphasised the role of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) in addressing Pakistan's economic challenges, highlighting its potential to attract up to $100 billion in investment from countries such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, and other Gulf allies. He also announced the creation of task forces on economic and sectoral matters, assured that money exchanges would be brought under taxation to improve transparency in dollar exchange and interbank rates, and said that Pakistan's grey economy was two to three times larger than the documented economy.[36] He facilitated multi-billion-dollar investment agreements with the UAE through the SIFC, covering sectors such as energy, port operations, wastewater treatment, food security, logistics, mining, aviation, and banking.[37]
As of 2024, the SIFC has failed to attract any significant investment. However, both Saudi Arabia and the UAE have announced multibillion-dollar commitments through the council.[38] Pakistan's investment-to-GDP ratio fell to 13.1% in the fiscal year 2023–24, its lowest level in 50 years.[39]
Field Marshal (2025–present)
In the aftermath of the 2025 India–Pakistan conflict, the Government of Pakistan promoted Munir to the rank of Field Marshal on 20 May 2025, making him the second individual in Pakistan's history to attain the rank after Ayub Khan.[40] Asim Munir's promotion as Field Marshal makes him as first and only military commander in the history of Pakistan who is occupying office of the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) with the rank of Field Marshal (five-star General), which is a historical depart from a tradition where the COAS often holds a four-star General rank.[41][42][43][44]Ayub Khan, who was Pakistan's first Field Marshal abandoned office of the Chief of the Army Staff just after his promotion as Field Marshal.
The elevation was approved unanimously by the federal cabinet in recognition of his leadership during Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos, which the government credited with repelling Indian aggression and ensuring national security. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described the military operation as a "remarkable success" and commended Munir's "exemplary courage and resolve". On 16 May 2025, he declared the day to be observed annually as Youm-e-Tashakur ("Day of Gratitude") following the conclusion of the 2025 India–Pakistan conflict. According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Munir dedicated the honour to the people of Pakistan, the armed forces, and particularly to the martyrs and veterans.[45]
In June 2025, Munir became the first Pakistani army chief to be hosted for lunch by a serving U.S. president, Donald Trump, without simultaneously holding the office of the country's head of state. Trump credited Munir with playing a key role in defusing the 2025 India–Pakistan conflict, preventing escalation to a potential nuclear confrontation. According to U.S. Central Command chief Michael Kurilla, Munir personally coordinated with U.S. officials on counterterrorism operations, including the arrest of the Abbey Gate bombing suspect in Kabul.[46]
Personal life
Munir is a Muslim, and he is deemed as a conservative figure regarding religion.[47] Munir's family are locally known as a hafiz family, as its many members are known to have memorized the entire Quran by heart, including Munir, who did so during his posting in Saudi Arabia as a Lieutenant-Colonel.[48] He is the first army chief in Pakistan's history to have memorized the entire Qur'an.[49]
Munir is a keen sportsman, an avid reader, and a traveller.[50]
Munir's foreign policy, or "the Munir doctrine", has been described as trying to shift away from the traditional choice between the United States and China as a primary geopolitical partner, and centred around three key points: to have a softer image of Pakistan, to transform it into a regional middle power, especially as a security actor, and to prioritize geoeconomics over geopolitics.[52]
He has been critical of Pakistan's neighbours, arguing that Afghanistan did not support Pakistan's admission to the United Nations following independence and has historically supported the insurgency in Balochistan. Regarding India, he stated that "India has not reconciled with the concept of Pakistan, then how can we reconcile with them?"[53]
"Pakistan first" policy
Munir is described as having a "Pakistan first" policy,[54] taking a defensive stance against many of Pakistan's adversaries. After the 2024 Iran–Pakistan border skirmishes, Munir reiterated that Pakistan would respond to such altercations, stating that "You [Iran] cannot backstab us, and if you do, you will get a befitting reply."[53]
In October 2023, Munir highlighted the importance of national security while discussing the imminent deportation of illegal immigrants, including an estimated 1.7 million Afghan nationals.[55]
He has also stated that Pakistan should be prioritised over Afghanistan, even stating that "when it comes to the safety and security of every single Pakistani, the whole of Afghanistan can be damned."[56]
In May 2024, Munir expressed concerns regarding "negative propaganda" on social media platforms and affirmed the military's readiness to address any threats or conspiracies. He also strongly denounced the dissemination of "disinformation" in Pakistan's cyberspace.[58] Munir emphasized that the military understands its constitutional boundaries, and he urged others to also abide by the limits outlined in the constitution. He pointed to Article 19 of the Constitution of Pakistan, which delineates restrictions on freedom of expression, including the prohibition of incitement to violence and attempts to undermine the integrity, security, or defense of Pakistan, among other provisions.[59][60]
In November 2024, a statement from state broadcaster PTV recorded Munir as saying "Unrestricted freedom of speech is leading to the degradation of moral values in all societies." He further said "[w]hile technology has enhanced access to knowledge, it has also facilitated the rapid spread of misinformation and hateful narratives, destabilizing political and social structures globally".[61]
Social media
In April 2024, Munir warned that negative propaganda and social media trolls would not be able to deter them.[62] In May 2024, he cautioned that "inimical" forces and their supporters had unleashed "digital terrorism" and were intensifying efforts to sow discord between the Pakistan Armed Forces and the public by spreading "lies, fake news, and propaganda."[63]
In August 2024, Munir warned that social media was being exploited to propagate "anarchy." His remarks that "Anarchy is spread through social media" followed a condemnation by the ISPR of social media campaigns to target the Pakistan Armed Forces.[64] He also issued a warning against efforts to incite chaos within the country. The Tribune (India) highlighted that his comments followed social media posts drawing parallels between Pakistan's current situation and the downfall of Sheikh Hasina's government in Bangladesh.[65]
On August 14, while addressing a parade on country's Independence Day, Munir reiterated his criticism of social media, warning that it was being used to spread chaos and false information targeting the Pakistan Armed Forces. He also attributed this "digital terrorism" to foreign elements.[66]
On 21 August, Munir stated that it is the state's duty to shield the public from the adverse effects of social media-driven "hysteria" and "fitna." Dawn reported that this statement was part of a series of warnings from Munir and the Pakistani military concerning the potential "dangers" with social media.[67]
Two-nation theory
On April 17, 2025, Munir publicly endorsed the two-nation theory, saying:
Our forefathers thought we are different from Hindus in every possible aspect of life. Our religions are different, our customs are different, our traditions are different, our thoughts are different, our ambitions are different. That was the foundation of the two-nation theory that was laid there. We are two nations, we are not one nation.[68]
On April 26, 2025, Munir reiterated his views on the two-nation theory while speaking at a passing out parade ceremony at the Pakistan Military Academy, saying, "the two-nation theory was based on the fundamental belief that Muslims and Hindus are two separate nations, not one."[69]
In an interview with Farhat Javed Rabani of BBC Urdu, Joshua T. White of Johns Hopkins University described Munir's speech—emphasising religious identity and invoking the two-nation theory—as unusually provocative in tone, though aligned with Pakistan's ideological stance. He noted that its delivery just days before the 2025 Pahalgam attack complicated Pakistan's diplomatic posture by undermining claims of restraint. Abdul Basit of Singapore's S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies observed that while the speech may have reflected an emotionally charged moment, it was also interpreted as an assertion of authority, signalling that the military remained firmly in control. The BBC report noted that no direct link was established between the speech and the attack, though the timing fuelled regional tensions and speculation.[70][71]
Indus Waters Treaty
In August 2025, during a black-tie dinner in Tampa, Florida, Munir warned that Pakistan would never allow India to choke the Indus River, vowing to destroy any dam New Delhi sought to build, and declared that "the Indus River is not the Indians' family property."[72]
Pakistani diaspora
Munir describes the Pakistani diaspora as a “source of pride and dignity,” rejecting the term “brain drain” and instead referring to it as a “brain gain.”[73][74]
Public image
In November 2024, Michael Kugelman, director of the South Asia Institute at Washington's Wilson Center, described the extension of Munir's tenure as army chief as a move that strengthens "the most powerful post in Pakistan." He warned on X that "when a legislature is reduced to a rubber stamp, democracy is never a winner."[26]
In June 2025, Ashok Swain, professor of peace and conflict research at Uppsala University, wrote that Munir had undergone a dramatic shift in public perception within Pakistan. Swain said that until May 2025, Munir was regarded as "perhaps the most reviled Pakistani army chief since the 1971 war" due to his role in the crackdown on former prime minister Imran Khan and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party. According to Swain, following Pakistan's military response to Indian airstrikes across the Line of Control in May 2025, Munir experienced "a political resurrection" and was portrayed domestically as a defender of national sovereignty.[75]
In reference to Munir's meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in June 2025, Raza Rumi of the City University of New York said the meeting validated a military-to-military track in U.S.-Pakistan relations while bypassing the civilian government, thereby undermining efforts towards democratic consolidation. He added that such developments reinforced the perception of military dominance in national decision-making, characterising the reset in ties as one where "khaki once again trumps ballot."[46]
Controversies
Removal as DG-ISI
It was alleged that Munir was removed as DG-ISI in 2019 by then-Prime Minister Imran Khan over investigations into corruption involving Khan's wife, Bushra Bibi. Khan denied these allegations in a post on X in May 2023, saying: "This is completely false. Neither did Gen Asim show me any proof of my wife’s corruption, nor did I make him resign because of that."[76] In July 2025, Khan alleged that Munir tried to send a message to his wife through Zulfi Bukhari while being removed as DG-ISI. He said: "She firmly refused to meet."[77]
Allegations by Imran Khan
On 6 April 2024, Imran Khan alleged that a "London plan" had been devised between Munir and Nawaz Sharif, involving judges and linked to what he described as the theft of the democratic mandate.[78] On 17 April, Khan blamed Munir for the incarceration of his wife Bushra Bibi, who had been convicted in a corruption case and in a case relating to the illegality of her marriage to Khan. She was being held at her residence in Bani Gala, Islamabad.[79]
In July 2025, Khan alleged that Munir was directly responsible for the treatment he and his wife received in prison. In a post on X, Khan claimed that a jail superintendent and a military officer were acting under Munir's orders. Khan further alleged that Munir harbored a personal grudge stemming from an incident during his premiership, in which Bibi refused to meet Munir after he allegedly attempted to contact her through a party member.[80]
Allegations of interference in judiciary
In his 2020 book, The Battle for Pakistan, Shuja Nawaz stated that Munir "was reported to have been behind the sacking of a high court judge who had been critical of the ISI."[81] However, Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui clarified that his removal occurred before Munir's appointment as ISI head and attributed his sacking to former Chief Justices Saqib Nisar and Asif Saeed Khosa, and then-DG-C ISI Major General Faiz Hameed. Siddiqui stated that Shuja Nawaz's account was incorrect and emphasized that Munir was not involved in his dismissal.[82]
Allegations of nepotism
On 17 March 2025, Ahmad Noorani published a report alleging that relatives and close associates of Munir had interfered in key government appointments, securing top positions despite lacking merit or performance.[83] The next day, about 20 armed men who identified themselves as police raided Noorani's family home and forcibly took away his two brothers to an undisclosed location. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) described the abduction as likely an act of retaliation for Noorani's reporting, while the Committee to Protect Journalists said that Noorani and his family's court petition linked the brothers' disappearance to his report on Munir. RSF further reported that local police denied any involvement.[84][85]
Alleged threats against India
According to the Indian online newspaper ThePrint, Munir said, "We are a nuclear nation; if we think we are going down, we'll take half the world down with us." He further said, "We'll start from India's East, where they have located their most valuable resources, and then move westwards."[86] Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said: "Nuclear sabre-rattling is Pakistan's stock-in-trade," and added, "The international community can draw its own conclusions on the irresponsibility inherent in such remarks." Reuters, in reporting on India's response to the alleged nuclear remarks, said that only an excerpt of Munir's speech was released by Pakistani security officials and it did not contain the nuclear-related statements. Furthermore, it said that it could not independently verify the remarks.[87] While Indian officials argued that it was irresponsible on Pakistan's part to make such statements in a "third friendly country", Pakistan's Foreign Office claimed that the statements were "distorted."[88]
According to The Times of India, Munir said that he had authorised a social media post combining a Quranic verse from Surah Al-Fil with a picture of Mukesh Ambani, "to show them what we will do the next time." The report added that he warned Pakistan would target India's oil installations, specifically naming the Jamnagar Refinery, in a future conflict.[89] According to the Indian media outlet NDTV, Munir reportedly said, "I am going to use a crude analogy to explain the situation…India is a shining Mercedes coming on a highway like a Ferrari, but we are a dump truck full of gravel. If the truck hits the car, who is going to be the loser?"[90]
Alleged comments on May 9 riots
In August 2025, Daily Jang editor Suhail Warraich reported that, during a stopover in Brussels, Munir said that political reconciliation is possible only if there is a sincere apology, without specifying whom he was referring to. The comment was interpreted as possibly referring to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which the state holds responsible for the May 9 riots. Inter-Services Public Relations DG Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry later denied that Munir gave any interview or made any political statement and said that he did not mention the PTI.[91]
↑ Nawaz, Shuja (10 April 2020). The Battle for Pakistan. Maryland, United States of America: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. p.263. ISBN9781538142059. More importantly in the context of the civil-military tensions, he was reported to have been behind the sacking of a high court judge who had been critical of the ISI.
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Pakistan 
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