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First Post
30-06-2025
- Politics
- First Post
Military, mullahs, and ISI agents: The collapse of democracy in Pakistan
A closer look at the Pakistani state over the years demonstrates that the 'democratic deficit', coupled with the rise of Islamist forces supported by the ruling elites, contributed to Pakistan's failed state syndrome read more Chief of Army Staff of Pakistan and now the 'field marshal' Asim Munir holds a microphone during his visit at the Tilla Field Firing Ranges (TFFR) to witness the Exercise Hammer Strike, a high-intensity field training exercise conducted by the Pakistan Army's Mangla Strike Corps, in Mangla, Pakistan May 1, 2025. Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) via Reuters The future of Pakistan is quite bleak and facing a crisis of its very existence. Some of the major factors responsible for the present crisis of Pakistan are the weakening of the political institutionalisation process, the rise of Islamist terrorist and radicals and their role in the political process, co-option of these groups by the Army, social-cultural strife, political decay are some of the factors responsible for ' democratic deficit' in Pakistan. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Introduction The cowardly and monstrous act carried out by the Pakistan-sponsored terrorists group The Resistant Front, a proxy of Lashkar-e-Taiba on April 22, 2025, at Pahalgam (in the Indian Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir) brought out the question of whether the Pakistan political establishment is appeasing both the Mullah and the Military, under whose mercy the government runs. The second aspect that needs to be examined is whether Pakistan is facing an existential crisis. The third question that requires attention is whether the international community will declare Pakistan an evil state, considering its track record of patronising and sponsoring terrorism. 'Democratic Deficit' and Co-option of Radical Islamist networks in the Political Process in Pakistan The prolonged political instability and 'democratic deficit' which has plagued the Pakistani political system over the years has put Pakistan in a blackspot. One of the major factors that contributed to the present chaos in Pakistan, which put both the social and political systems in a nadir, is the unholy nexus between the military and the mullahs who operate in collusion with each other and that prevented the flourishing of democracy in Pakistan. The genesis of the growing role of radical Islamist forces in Pakistan's politics can be traced back to creation in 1947. Muhammad Ali Jinnah, considered to be the founder of Pakistan, used Islam as a tool to mobilise the Muslim masses for the creation of Pakistan. It has even been argued by Indian Journalist that Jinnah has used the irregular army in the form of terrorists to wage war against India in 1947 and 1965. In this context, Akbar further writes, ' Pakistan invented modern terrorism'. The same policy that the political establishment is continuing now. As such, the nexus between the radical jehadi groups and the Pakistani political establishment was deep-rooted, as Christina Lamb writes in his book Waiting for Allah: Pakistan's Struggle for Democracy. However, the roots for such nexus were manifested more glaringly in the regime of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, who systematically cultivated these radicalist and jehadi forces to achieve his power consolidation at the domestic polity and at the same time to give greater teeth in the country's foreign policy plank. It may be underlined here that his successor, General Zia ul Haq, also gave a greater push to the nexus between the army and mullahs in Pakistan to garner necessary support. Even late Benazir Bhutto, during her term, constantly cultivated these mullahs and the military to ensure legitimacy for her regime. Thus, the military and mullahs, along with Pakistan's notorious and evil intelligence agency Inter Service Intelligence (ISI) played a critical role in the upsurge of radicalisation of Pakistan's politics which provided an impetus to the growing Jihadi culture in Pakistan. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'Greedy State', Pakistan's Army and Radicalisation It is not just the radicalisation of politics that happened, but Pakistan's political elites started radicalising the educational system, which provided the fertile soil for the growth of madrassas. These madrassas' theological education, which contradicts modern-day secular education, has also contributed to the rise of radicalization of the educational system. As the theological educational system suited the interests of the political elites of Pakistan, it produced mercenaries under the guidance of religious education. The basic objective of Pakistan's army, as Christian Fair argues in her book titled Fighting to the End: The Pakistan Army's Way of War, is to make Pakistan a ' Greedy State'. According to Fair ' Greedy states pursue revisionist policies to increase their prestige, to spread their ideology or to propagate their religion'. Thus, these mercenaries produced in the madrassas of Pakistan became an asset for its army and the devil Pakistan's intelligence wing, ISI , in achieving ulterior goals. The state patronage of terrorism has been admitted by the Pakistani political elite over the years. The admission of Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif in his interview to Sky News, where he accepted that Pakistan is supporting and sponsoring global terrorism. As Asif, the Defence Minister of Pakistan, stated, Pakistan 'have been doing this dirty work for the United States for about three decades and the West, including Britain'. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Similarly, a former high official of Pakistan Husain Haqqani in his book Pakistan: Between Mosque and Military stated, 'This political commitment to an ideological state gradually evolved into a strategic commitment to jihadi ideology—ideology of holy war.' Thus, the open admission by Pakistan's Defence Minister, as well as Haqqani, reflects the nature of the unholy nexus between the Pakistan army and Madrassas, which in turn produces radical Islamist terrorist forces. The nexus between the Pakistan Army and Madrassas was succinctly analysed by Siegfried O Wolf in an article titled 'Pakistan and State-Sponsored Terrorism in South Asia'. In this article, Wolf observes that: 'Islamic teaching was incorporated into the military curriculum for recruits. Furthermore, military organizations had to follow increasingly religious guidelines, and the promotion of officers to higher ranks was largely based on religious conviction (the more conservative, the better), rather than merit or years of service. Islamic clerics (mullahs) belonging to the conservative Deobandi stream in Islam and radicalized groups like Jamaat-i-Islami were appointed to work with the soldiers'. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Some of these factors are responsible for the present radicalisation of the army in Pakistan, which in turn contributed to the breeding of jihadi army. The same was reflected in the hateful speech of Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir, now the 'Field Marshal', just before the Pahalgam incident. Munir stated, ' Pakistanis are fundamentally different from Hindus in religion, culture, traditions, thoughts, and ambitions.' By employing these religious rhetorics, Munir wanted to mobilise the Pakistan Army as well as Islamist mercenaries. This helped Munir to consolidate his stronghold over Pakistan's politics. Evil ISI and Islamist Terror Network Nexus in Pakistan Similarly, the notorious ISI, known for its devilish intent, has also been actively involved in nurturing terrorism in Pakistan. As some of the above studies suggest, the ISI has a deep connection with the madrasas of Pakistan and uses them to recruit terrorists and indoctrinate them with religious zealotry. Available literature suggests that the terrorist groups of Pakistan are hand in glove with the Pakistani establishment. The same was highlighted by noted South Asian expert Ashley J Tellis in his monograph titled The Menace That Is Lashkar-e-Taiba. In this monograph Tellis underlined that the dreaded Pakistan based terrorist group 'Lashkar-e-Taiba, bolstered by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate, this Wahhabi group promotes the vision of a universal Islamic caliphate through tableegh and jihad—preaching and armed struggle.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The notorious ISI of Pakistan, along with LeT has also created other prominent terrorist groups like the Jaish e-Mohammad (JeM), the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (HuM), Hizb-Ul-Ul-Mujahideen, Shipai-e-Saheba Pakistan, Laskar-e Jangvii Pakistan, United Jehad Council (JUC), Al Badr, just to name a few. All the terrorists are recruited by ISI from the religious madrassas of Pakistan and are indoctrinated with a hatred ideology. The South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP) has listed such Pakistan-based terrorist groups and also outlined how Pakistan's ISI is nurturing these terrorist groups. A recent book written by Abhinav Pandya, titled Jaish-e-Muhammad: Inside the Terrifying World of the Prophet's Army, has also analysed the nexus between Pakistan's ISI, madrassas and terror groups. In his book, Pandya analyses that Deobandi Ideology largely influences these Pakistani terrorist groups nurtured under ISI . Similar view can be inferred from the writing of the former US National Security Advisor, Lt Gen (retd) H R McMaster, in his book At War with Ourselves: My Tour of Duty in the Trump White House, where he exposed the nefarious link between Pakistan's ISI and terrorist groups. The book written by Pakistani Scholar Medha Afzhal titled Pakistan Under Siege: Extremism, Society and the State, highlights the link among the ISI, terrorist groups, as well as the military establishment in Pakistan. The Pakistan establishment uses these terrorist groups as a front to wage an asymmetric warfare against India. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Looking at the active penetration of ISI in the Pakistan political establishment Owen L Sirrs in his book titled Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate: Covert Action and Internal Operations, argues that 'ISI plans and executes Pakistan's proxy war strategy. From Kashmir to Afghanistan, it has created., trained armed militant groups'. Sirrs argues that 'it is a state within a state'. It is also a fact that though Pakistan joined the US war in Afghanistan after the 9/11 incident, on the other hand, it provided a safe haven to Osama Bin Laden, the al-Qaida chief, and his entourage. For all these reasons, Pakistan has become the breeding ground of global terrorism. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has also put Pakistan in the grey list. The international community also looks at Pakistan suspiciously. A closer look at the above studies suggests that the political system in Pakistan is largely under the control of the Army, ISI and the Madrassas, which are in fact the de facto rulers of the country. The election, choice of Prime Minister, as well as the decision-making process, both internal and external in Pakistan, are carried out by the Army, ISI and the radical Islamist madrassas. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Over the years the notorious ISI of Pakistan in connivance with its political establishment and the military used these jihadi terrorist networks operating from Pakistan's soil to wage an asymmetric war against India. Whether it is the Air India flight hijack 1999, or the attack on India's Parliament 2001, the 26/11 attack in Mumbai 2007, Uri and Pathankot attack, the Pulwama attack in 2019, just to name a few. All these incidents are being waged by Pakistan's rogue ISI along with JeM, LeT, with the active connivance of some of the splinter terror groups mentioned above. Some of the dreaded and UN-designated Pakistani terrorists like Masood Azhar, Hafeez Sayeed, and Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Syed Sallaudhin (who fled from India, operating from Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK)) are operating in Pakistan with support from ISI and the Pakistan establishment and carrying out all the terrorist activities against India. The same is the case with another dreaded UN-designated terrorist, Dawood Ibrahim, a proclaimed offender and responsible for the Mumbai blast in 1993, under whose name a Red Corner notice has been issued by Interpol at the request of India, has also been given shelter in Pakistan. As a Russian scholar, Vyacheslav Y Belokrenitsky, in an article titled 'Islam and Islamic radicalism in Pakistan', underlines that radicalism and terrorist activities in India are 'actively supported by Pakistani official circles'. The above view of Belokrenitsky reflects the kind of unholy alliance that exists between the Pakistan establishment and the terrorists, which it breeds within Pakistan. Pakistan is using these terrorists to wage an asymmetric warfare against India. The then Minister of State of Home Affairs of India, G Kishan Reddy in a response to the questionnaire in Rajya Sabha (Upper House of Indian Parliament), in 2021 mentioned that ' there are several terrorist training camps in Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir (POJK) which are used for training and subsequently for infiltrating trained militants/terrorists into J&K for terrorist activities. Some of these training camps are still active and imparting training to militants.' Similarly, a recent report of the Indian army suggests that around 150-200 terror camps are functioning in POJK with the active connivance of the Pakistan government. It is also a fact that Pakistan is not only sponsoring and patronising terrorism but is also involved in active radicalisation and terror funding, and trying to play the Islamic card. Similarly, reports also suggest that both Pakistan's army and its evil ISI are engaged in narco-terror activities to fund and patronise terrorism. Along with this, Pakistan is facing challenges internally from Baluchistan, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, and also in Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan(POGB) and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (POJK). In this context. Already, Baluchistan declared its de-facto independence from Pakistan. The rogue nature of Pakistan's strategic conduct poses a substantial challenge to both regional and global security. It is a fact that Pakistan is not only posing a threat to India, but all the South Asian countries are facing the same. The increasing infiltration of Pakistan's ISI in Nepal is giving headaches to the Nepalese Authority. One may underline here that Turkey under Erdogan is also strongly supporting Pakistan's nefarious activities in Nepal. Similarly, the radicalisation of Bangladesh's politics by Pakistan over the years resulted in the overthrow of the democratically elected Sheikh Hasina government and subsequent chaos in the country. Sri Lanka and the Maldives have also faced the threat of radicalism and terrorism originating from Pakistan. The case of Afghanistan is not much different. Since 1979, the radicalisation of Afghanistan and subsequent chaos in the country were largely orchestrated by Pakistan. Over the years, Pakistan exported terrorism to Afghanistan and Central Asia to achieve its ' strategic depth'. Both Central Asian countries and Russia have also accused Pakistan of fomenting trouble. Even many Chechen and Central Asian terror groups obtained their training from Pakistan. European countries, as well as the United States, are constantly accusing Pakistan of its role in the proliferation of global terrorism. In the past, the Trump Administration, in its first term, withheld financial aid worth 250 million US dollars to Pakistan for its devilish role of patronizing terrorism. In 2018, President Trump tweeted that 'They [Pakistan] give safe haven to the terrorists we [the US] hunt in Afghanistan, with little help'. Pakistan's dark history and its involvement in nurturing and sponsoring terrorism pose a substantial security threat not only to India but also to global security. The global community is constantly raising their apprehension over Pakistan's tacit support for terrorism. Along with Islamabad's role in patronising global terrorism, there is a growing sectarian conflict, a lack of effective governance, as the political process was largely hijacked by the military, mullahs and the ISI. As a known Pakistani scholar, Ayesha Jalal, in an article titled 'Does Democracy have a Future in Pakistan?' published in the Journal of Democracy, writes, 'Pakistan has been imploding in slow motion for decades'. She further writes, 'The shortest route to power in Pakistan is to win the army's favour.' The growing preponderance of the army in the political process, increasing role of religious madrassas, as well as a failed electoral democracy over the years, as well as sectarian strife and growing societal conflict, endemic poverty and lack of economic development, make Pakistan a perfect case for a failed state. Pakistan's Role in Pehalgam Terror Attack The recent massacre of 26 innocent civilians at Pahalgam by the Pakistan terrorists in collusion with local terrorists reflects the nefarious design of Pakistan. Soon after the attack, the Pakistan-sponsored and supported terror module, The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of Lashkar-e-Taiba, took responsibility for the attack. This terror group is a frontal organisation of LeT and JeM, the two dreaded Pakistan-based terror groups. The TRF was also involved in an earlier terror attack in August 2024 when it attacked a bus carrying pilgrims. The primary objective of this terror module is to recruit local people to terror groups of LeT and JeM. The TRF also has linkages with the official terror enterprises of Pakistan, ISI. Though the TRF was a banned terror group from January 2023. As reports suggest, this terror group, TRF, uses phrases like ' resistance' to create a new narrative, but the core objective is to pose a substantial threat to the peace and tranquillity of Jammu and Kashmir. The April 22, attack by terrorists on innocent civilians in Pehalgam is a part of the strategy on the part of the Pakistan Army to perpetuate its cross-border terrorism, which it has been doing over the decades. As news reports suggest, even a retired Pakistan army soldier is involved in the terror attack. The report submitted by the National Investigation Agency(NIA) of India directly indicates the role of the Pakistan-sponsored terrorist group LeT, Pakistan's monstrous intelligence wing, ISI and the radicalised Pakistan army for the attack. The report also highlights the involvement of local terror sympathizers at Pehalgam who facilitated the terror attack. Pakistan's Global Isolation The recent Pakistan-sponsored terror attack at Pahalgam resulted the international community condemning the barbarity and the heinous act of Pakistan in sponsoring terrorism. The US Department of State mentioned that 'the United States stands with India and strongly condemns the terrorist attack in Pahalgam'. As reported, 'President Trump strongly condemned the terror attack and expressed full support to India to bring to justice the perpetrators of this heinous attack. India and the United States stand together in the fight against terror'. Similarly, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated, 'This brutal crime has no justification whatsoever. We expect that its organisers and perpetrators will face a deserved punishment. I would like to reiterate our commitment to further increasing cooperation with Indian partners in fighting terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.' The UN Security Council in a Press Briefing on April 25, 2025, 'strongly condemned the deadly terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday that killed at least 26 tourists and left many more injured, calling for accountability and international cooperation to bring the perpetrators to justice'. Conclusion A closer look at the Pakistani state over the years demonstrates that the 'democratic deficit', coupled with the rise of Islamist forces supported by the ruling elites, contributed to Pakistan's failed state syndrome. The ruling elites of Pakistan employed the radicalist forces as a tool to ensure legitimacy for their rule. The growing nexus between the Army, ISI and the Jehadi forces in Pakistan has also further deepened the democratic crisis. This failed state syndrome, over the years, has also been posing a substantial threat to Pakistan's very existence. The author teaches at the School of International Studies, JNU, New Delhi. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author; they do not necessarily reflect Firstpost views.
The Star
18-06-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Pakistan's army chief to meet Trump after conflict with India defused
FILE PHOTO: Chief of Army Staff of Pakistan Asim Munir holds a microphone during his visit at the Tilla Field Firing Ranges (TFFR) to witness the Exercise Hammer Strike, a high-intensity field training exercise conducted by the Pakistan Army's Mangla Strike Corps, in Mangla, Pakistan May 1, 2025. Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR)/Handout via REUTERS/File photo WASHINGTON/ISLAMABAD (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to have lunch with Pakistani armed forces chief Asim Munir at the White House on Wednesday, according to Trump's official schedule. The rare one-on-one meeting between a Pakistani military chief and a U.S. president could rile India after the worst fighting between the nuclear-armed rivals in South Asia for decades, which Trump took responsibility for helping defuse. Pakistan's foreign ministry and the military's media wing did not reply to requests for comment on the White House meeting and it was not immediately clear what would be discussed at the lunch, which was closed to the press. Trump said last month India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire after talks mediated by Washington, and that the hostilities ended after he urged the countries to focus on trade instead of war. However, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Trump late on Tuesday that the ceasefire was achieved through talks between the two militaries and not U.S. mediation, according to India's most senior diplomat. Pakistan has thanked Washington for its role in the mediation efforts last month. The military has ruled Pakistan for at least three decades since independence in 1947 and has wielded extraordinary influence even with a civilian government in office. (Reporting by Susan Heavey in Washington and Charlotte Greenfield in Islamabad; editing by Mark Heinrich)
News18
03-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
Pakistan's Persistent Provocations After Urging World To Ask India To Defuse Tensions
Last Updated: Saturday's Abdali missile test appears to be the latest provocation and a reckless attempt by Pakistan to goad India since the Pahalgam terror attack Pakistan on Saturday test-fired the Abdali weapon system, a surface-to-surface missile with a range of 450 km, in an action that marks a dangerous escalation and a provocative step in its ongoing hostility towards India. As tensions between the two countries flared following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday urged 'brotherly countries", including Saudi Arabia, to impress upon India the need to de-escalate and defuse hostilities. The United States and the European Union have also appealed to the nations to exercise restraint. However, in this already volatile environment, the missile test appears to be a deliberate provocation and reckless attempt by Pakistan to goad India. Amid expectations of potential Indian military action following the Pahalgam attack, Pakistan's armed forces are conducting several exercises near the Line of Control and in the Arabian Sea. Pakistan has closed several air traffic routes between Lahore and Islamabad and issued multiple navy area warnings along its coastline. The Pakistani air force is holding three distinct exercises, the army is conducting Exercise Hammer Strike near the LoC, and the navy is engaged in a series of drills in the Arabian Sea. The air force exercises conducted over the last few days include Zarb-e-haidari, Fiza e Badr, and Lalkar e Momin. These involved fighter jets like the F-16, J-10, and JF-17. Army chief Asim Munir visited the Tilla Field Firing Ranges near Jhelum to witness exercises by the Mangla Strike Corps. These exercises are taking place against a backdrop of heavy mobilisation of military equipment, including artillery, tanks, and other assets. Pakistan's recently acquired SH-15 155mm, 52-calibre self-propelled howitzer from China has also reportedly been deployed. First Published: May 03, 2025, 16:49 IST
Arab News
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Pakistan army chief vows ‘swift, resolute' response to any military action by India
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Army Chief General Syed Asim Munir on Thursday vowed that any military misadventure by India would be met with a 'swift, resolute' response amid surging tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbors. These remarks came from Munir while he visited the Tilla Field Firing Ranges (TFFR) near the eastern city of Jhelum to witness 'Exercise Hammer Strike,' a high-intensity field training exercise conducted by Pakistan Army's Mangla Strike Corps. The army continued to hold war exercises on Thursday in a bid to demonstrate its military might to its neighbor. Pakistan has vowed to give a befitting and 'strong' response to any military action by India as tensions surged after New Delhi blamed Islamabad for being involved in an attack on Indian-administered Kashmir on Apr. 22. Islamabad has denied involvement in the attack, which killed 26 people and prompted both countries to take several hostile measures against each other. These included India suspending a decades-old water-sharing treaty, suspending visas for Pakistani nationals and declaring its military advisers 'persona non grata.' Pakistan responded with tit-for-tat measures. 'Let there be no ambiguity: any military misadventure by India will be met with a swift, resolute, and notch-up response,' Munir was quoted as saying by Pakistan military's media wing. 'While Pakistan remains committed to regional peace, our preparedness and resolve to safeguard national interests is absolute.' Munir lauded the high morale, combat proficiency and warfighting spirit of Pakistan's officers and troops at the firing ranges, terming them the 'embodiment of Pakistan Army's operational excellence.' The military said that the exercise was designed to validate combat readiness, battlefield synergy and operational integration of cutting-edge weapon systems under near-battlefield conditions. 'A diverse array of advanced capabilities, including multirole fighter aircraft, combat aviation assets, long-range precision artillery and next-generation field engineering techniques were employed to simulate conventional battlefield scenarios,' it said. RUBIO CALLS FOR DE-ESCALATION Separately, US Secretary of State spoke to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday to discuss the regional situation. As per the US State Department, Rubio urged Islamabad to cooperate in the attack's investigation and de-escalate the situation. 'The Secretary urged Pakistani officials' cooperation in investigating this unconscionable attack,' the State Department said. 'He also encouraged Pakistan to work with India to de-escalate tensions, re-establish direct communications, and maintain peace and security in South Asia.' According to Sharif's office, the Pakistani premier asked Washington to impress upon India to 'act responsibly' and 'dial down the rhetoric.' 'He [Sharif] categorically rejected Indian attempts to link Pakistan to the incident and pointed to his call for a transparent, credible, and neutral investigation to bring out the facts,' the PMO said. Rubio also spoke to India's External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Wednesday, expressing sorrow for the loss of lives in the Apr. 22 attack. He also encouraged India to work with Pakistan to de-escalate tensions and maintain peace and security in South Asia, the State Department said.
News18
01-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
'Exercise Hammer Strike' Part Of Pakistan's Psyops Toolkit: Intel Sources
Last Updated: This is designed to project military strength against India and shape domestic and international narratives, the sources added By framing Exercise Hammer Strike as a mix of innovation and technological modernisation, Pakistan army chief Syed Asim Munir Ahmed Shah is trying to project the image of a powerful general, top Indian intelligence sources have told CNN-News18. 'The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) release is a multilayered psyops tool," said a source. 'It warns India against aggression while reassuring China of Pakistan's strategic utility." According to intelligence sources, this serves as a calculated psychological operation by the Pakistan army chief. This is designed to project military strength against India and shape domestic and international narratives. 'This exercise is to highlight cutting-edge weapon systems, long-range precision artillery, and next-generation technologies," a source said. 'This signals Pakistan's ability to counter India's military edge: S-400 missiles and Rafale jets." Munir's statement, where he said, 'Any misadventure by India will be met with a swift, resolute, and notch-up response", reinforces nuclear ambiguity and conventional readiness and resembles India's Cold Start, said sources. Pakistan is showcasing niche technologies, likely Chinese-origin systems like HQ-9 SAMs and Wing Loong drones, they added. This indicates heavy dependence on Chinese artillery. In this, they have shown the JF-17 Block III with Chinese AESA radars/PL-15 missiles, positioned to challenge India's Rafales. This is timed at heightened India-Pakistan tensions post-Pahalgam attack to preemptively counter Indian military posturing, sources stated. This distracts from domestic crises like economic collapse and political instability by redirecting focus to national security, they added. This exercise, according to them, counters India's global narrative of Pakistan as a terror sponsor by reframing the army as a professional, tech-savvy force. The presence of senior formations with him shows solidarity. Munir visited the Tilla Field Firing Ranges (TFFR) on Thursday to observe Exercise Hammer Strike— a high-intensity field training exercise conducted by the Pakistan army's Mangla Strike Corps, according to ISPR. The military's media wing highlighted that the exercise demonstrated the army's growing integration of advanced and emerging technologies to enhance both kinetic and non-kinetic capabilities. During his visit, General Munir praised the professionalism, morale, and combat readiness of the participating troops, describing them as a true representation of the Pakistan Army's operational excellence. While addressing the troops, he reiterated the armed forces' unwavering commitment to defending Pakistan's sovereignty and territorial integrity. 'Let there be no ambiguity: any military misadventure by India will be met with a swift, resolute, and elevated response. While Pakistan remains devoted to regional peace, our readiness and determination to protect national interests are absolute," he emphasised. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published: May 02, 2025, 00:47 IST
