The birth of new dominion in 1947 as Pakistan, political scientists questioned survival and functioning of state under the framework of international relation. The Armed force of Pakistan played a crucial role in ensuring its integrity, promoting nation-building and shaping of the country. Above all, they have ensured the defense and security of the country against an inimical India whose leadership wanted to break the country before it was able to stabilize as an independent state.
India’s nefarious designs have been the central characteristic of its policy and relations with Pakistan. Its aggressive policies meant to subjugate Pakistan resulted in the 1965 and 1971 War. Even before that, in 1948, a small-scale war took place between India and Pakistan over disputed Kashmir. In 1965, it was the valor and professionalism of Pakistan Armed Forces and support that they enjoyed of the Pakistani population that they were able to push back an enemy seven times bigger with a much larger inventory of weapons and equipment.
India’s stubbornness approach to destabilize Pakistan and in not resolving the UN accepted dispute of IIOJK and taking unilateral measures to define its future is at the heart of the core issue that divides and generates ill will between the two countries. Relations between India and Pakistan have seriously suffered due to Prime Minister Modi’s intransigent and highly inimical policies toward Pakistan, and are further complicating the resolution of the Kashmir problem along with other bilateral issues.
The Armed force and its institution within army has history to take issue of ‘Kashmir’ as part of faith and engage with India on similar lines. The present COAS General Syed Asim Munir in his first visit to Azad Jammu & Kashmir reaffirmed to fight against any misadventure till last drop of blood. This statement of COAS came in wake of the threat statement by his rival Indian army Lt. Gen. Upendra Dwivedi, the general officer commanding-in-chief of the Indian army’s northern command, on the status of the disputed Kashmir valley and the Gilgit-Baltistan region near the China border.
The fresh warning followed separate statements from Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh in October, said he hoped to have Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) region soon to complete the mission the BJP government began by annexing the Indian-administered Kashmir in Aug. 2019, inviting ire from the international community, mainly Islamabad’s longtime ally, China.
Endorsing Singh’s statement, Gen. Dwivedi, last year November, said the army was fully ready to implement the government’s decision.
The COAS who has already served as Director General Inter Service Intelligence |(ISI), top primer agency of Country said the military is ready to defend the country if attacked.
“We have noticed highly irresponsible statements from Indian leadership on GB and AJK (Azad Jammu and Kashmir) recently. Let me make it categorically clear, Pakistan’s armed forces are ever ready, not only to defend every inch of our motherland but to take the fight back to the enemy, if ever, war is imposed on us,” said Munir, a former head of the country’s premier intelligence agency, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), according to a statement from the military.
“Any misconception resulting into a misadventure will always be met with the full might of our armed forces backed by a resilient nation,” he was further quoted as saying.
India, he went on to say, will never be able to achieve its “nefarious” designs. He urged the international community to ensure “justice and deliver what is promised to the Kashmiri people as per UN resolutions.”
The COAS vowing to reply proportionately was moral boost for population of IIOJK, who are under an unprecedent military siege and facing the terrible state repression from last 3 year, since India illegally and unilaterally abrogated its autonomous status in August 5,2019.
The Kashmiri resistance leadership lauded the statement of Army chief for courageously raising the demand before the international community to ensure justice and deliver what is promised to the Kashmiris as per relevant UNSC resolutions.
Though General Munir took over the army at a time when relations with neighbouring India are tense, his attention are more likely be trained on threats along the western frontier, which have mounted since the Afghan Taliban returned to power in 2021. The Terror group Pakistani Taliban, an umbrella group of Islamist militants based in Afghanistan, are making a comeback. They have taken advantage of Afghan safe havens, with the Afghan Taliban ignoring requests from Pakistan to crack down.
The COAS with these challenges have proved that Pakistan armed force under his command will be a hanging sword for any aggressor trying to perpetrate any misadventure in Pakistan. therefore, he will not go soft on India viz-a-viz Kashmir issue.
General Asim knows India well. During his tenure as Head of ISI & MI he dedicated much time on the Indian chapter. His Force command northern area (FCNA) and X corps both having the Indian focus added to his expertise.
The professionalism and dedication of the General Asim as COAS will remain the hallmark for his future successes. Judging from his past and present professional competence, it gives confidence of his continued national contribution for the Kashmir issue unfinished agenda of partition, stability and integrity of Pakistan.
Taimur dar is from Indian occupied Kashmir, he is presently doing his MS in Mass communication.
