Wikipedia

Asim Munir: Difference between revisions

Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
m put the education part in the right section ("Early life and education")
Diruptive changes has been observed.
Tags: Reverted Disambiguation links added
Line 3:
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix = [[General (Pakistan)|General]]
| honorific-suffix = [[Nishan-i-Imtiaz|NI(M)]], [[Hilal-e-Imtiaz|HI(M)]]<ref name="COAS Name">{{Cite web |title=Lt General Asim Munir |url=https://ispr.gov.pk/chief-of-army-staff |website=www.ispr.gov.pk |language=en}}</ref>
| name = Syed Asim Munir
| native_name = {{Nastaliq| سید عاصم منیر }}<ref name="COAS Name">{{Cite web |title=Lt General Asim Munir |url=https://ispr.gov.pk/chief-of-army-staff |website=www.ispr.gov.pk |language=en}}</ref>
| native_name = {{Nastaliq|سَیِد عاصم منیر}}
| image = General Asim Munir (Pakistan).jpg
| caption = Official military portrait, 2022
Line 68 ⟶ 69:
*[[Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad]]
*[[War in North-West Pakistan]]
*[[2019 India–Pakistan border skirmishes]]
*[[2024 Iran–Pakistan border skirmishes]]
| mawards = [[File:Nishan-e-Imtiaz.png|20px]] {{small|[[Nishan-e-Imtiaz]]}}<br>[[File:Hilal-e-Imtiaz.png|20px]] {{small|[[Hilal-i-Imtiaz]]}}<br>[[File:Sword of Honor.png|20px]] [[Sword of Honour (Pakistan)]]
| birth_place = Dheri Hassanabad, [[Rawalpindi]], [[Pakistan]]
| spouse = Syeda Irum Asim
| country = [[Pakistan]]
Line 78 ⟶ 77:
}}
 
'''Syed Asim Munir''' [[Nishan-e-Imtiaz|NI(M)]] ({{lang-ur|سید عاصم منیر
'''Syed Asim Munir'''<ref name="COAS Name">{{Cite web |title=Lt General Asim Munir |url=https://ispr.gov.pk/chief-of-army-staff |website=www.ispr.gov.pk |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Saad |first=Muhammad |date=2022-11-22 |title=General Asim Munir profile, life and biography - |url=https://timesglo.com/coas-pak-army-asim-munir/ |access-date=2024-01-27 |website=Times Glo-Intellect To Influence! |language=en-US}}</ref> [[Nishan-e-Imtiaz|NI(M)]] ({{lang-ur|سید عاصم منیر
}})<ref name="COAS Name">{{Cite web |title=Lt General Asim Munir |url=https://ispr.gov.pk/chief-of-army-staff |website=www.ispr.gov.pk |language=en}}</ref> is a Pakistani army [[general]] and, the current [[Chief of Army Staff (Pakistan)|Chief of Army Staff]] since 29 November 2022.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |title=Lt General Asim Munir set to become next army chief, govt announces |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1013235-lt-general-asim-munir-set-to-become-next-army-chief-govt-announces |access-date=2022-11-24 |website=www.thenews.com.pk |language=en}}</ref> Prior to becoming the army chief, he was posted at the [[General Headquarters (Pakistan Army)|GHQ]] as [[Quartermaster general]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1705151 | title=Who will be the next army chief? | date=16 August 2022 }}</ref> He commanded the [[XXX Corps (Pakistan)|XXX Corps]] in [[Gujranwala]] from 17 June 2019 to 6 October 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ispr.gov.pk/press-release-detail.php?id=5339|title=Inter Services Public Relations Pakistan|website=www.ispr.gov.pk|access-date=2019-06-16}}</ref> He served as the 23rd [[Director-General of Inter-Services Intelligence|Director-General of the ISI]] until he was replaced bywith [[Lieutenant general (Pakistan)|lieutenant general]] [[Faiz Hameed]] on 16 June 2019.<ref>[https://nation.com.pk/17-Jun-2019/reshuffle-in-army-top-brass Reshuffle in army top brass] 17 June 2019, The Nation.</ref> Asim Munir receivedwas the recipient of the prestigious [[Sword of Honour (Pakistan)|Sword of Honour]] for his excellent performance as a cadet in the Officers Training School, [[Mangla]].<ref name="GeoNews">{{Cite web |date=29 November 2022 |title=A brief look at General Asim Munir's career |url=https://www.geo.tv/latest/454445-a-brief-look-at-lt-gen-asim-munirs-career |website=[[Geo News]]}}</ref>
 
== Early life and education ==
Munir was born into a [[Punjabi Muslim|Punjabi]] [[Sayyid|Syed]] family, with their roots lying in [[Jalandhar]], [[Punjab, India]], from where his parents migrated following theduring [[Partition of India|1947 partition of India]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=
Gen Asim Munir unlikely to be busy on India front for now as Imran Khan, hostile Durand Line pose new challenges|first=Rana|last=Banerji|url=https://www.firstpost.com/opinion-news-expert-views-news-analysis-firstpost-viewpoint/gen-asim-munir-unlikely-to-be-busy-on-india-front-for-now-as-imran-khan-hostile-durand-line-pose-new-challenges-11725771.html/amp|date=30 November 2022|quote=His parents migrated from Jalandhar, east Punjab […] he would be the eighth Punjabi Army Chief […]|website=[[Firstpost]]}}</ref> They moved to [[Toba Tek Singh]] before settling down in [[Rawalpindi]]'s Dheri Hassanabad, where they have been established for decades now. His late father, Syed Sarwar Munir, 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 [[Khutbah|Friday Khutbah sermon]]. Munir has two siblings, Syed Qasim Munir and Syed Hashim Munir. One of his brothers is a government school teacher.<ref>{{Cite web |title=From Jalandhar (India) to Rawalpindi: family profile of new Army Chief General Asim Munir |url=https://www.unewstv.com/234977/from-jalandhar-india-to-rawalpindi-family-profile-of-new-army-chief-general-asim-munir |access-date=2023-11-23 |website=UNewsTv |language=en-US}}</ref>
 
Munir graduated from the [[JGSDF Camp Takigahara|Fuji school, Japan]], the [[Command and Staff College, Quetta]], the Malaysian Armed Forces College, [[Kuala Lumpur]] and the [[National Defence University, Islamabad]], where he earned his [[MPhil]] in Public Policy and Strategic Security Management.<ref name="GeoNews" />▼
 
==Military career==
Asim Munir is from the 17th course of the Officers Training School in [[Mangla]]. He was commissioned in the 23rd Battalion of the [[Frontier Force Regiment]]. He started his military career on 25 April 1986.
 
As a [[Lieutenant colonel|Lieutenant Colonel]], Asim Munir has served in [[Riyadh]], [[Saudi Arabia|Kingdom of Saudi Arabia]] (KSA) as part of close defence cooperation between [[Riyadh]] and [[Islamabad]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-11-24 |title=Who is Lt Gen Asim Munir? |url=https://dunyanews.tv/en/Pakistan/676422-Who-is-Lt-Gen-Asim-Munir |access-date=2023-07-30 |website=Dunya News |language=en}}</ref>, andHe has also served at the [[Siachen Glacier]]. While he was a [[Brigadier]] Asim Munir, heearlier servedwas serving as the Chief of Staff of Pakistan's [[I Corps (Pakistan)|I Strike Corps Mangla]],. andBrigadier Asim has also commanded an infantry brigade in Northern Areas. He was promoted toas the rank ofa [[Major general|Major-general]] in 2014 served as the commander of the [[Force Command Northern Areas|Troops deployed in the Northern Areas of Pakistan]] in 2014 as the Force Commander North Areas (FCNA). Munir has also served as Director-General of [[Military Intelligence of Pakistan|Military Intelligence]] in 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Service |first=Indo-Asian News |date=2022-11-25 |title=Gen Asim Munir is first Pak Army chief to have headed both ISI, MI |url=https://www.siasat.com/gen-asim-munir-is-first-pak-army-chief-to-have-headed-both-isi-mi-2465639/ |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=The Siasat Daily |language=en-US}}</ref> He was awarded the [[Hilal-i-Imtiaz]] in March 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |title=President confers 58 military, 73 civil awards |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/296052-president-confers-58-military-73-civil-awards |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=www.thenews.com.pk |language=en}}</ref> Asim Munir was promoted to the rank of [[Lieutenant general|Lieutenant General]] in September 2018 and was subsequently appointed as [[Inter-Services Intelligence|DG ISI]]. In June 2019, Munir was replaced by Lt. Gen. [[Faiz Hameed]] as the new DG ISI. Subsequently, Munir was appointed as Corps Commander of [[XXX Corps (Pakistan)|XXX Corps]] in [[Gujranwala]] in 2019.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1488673 | title=Faiz made ISI chief in military shake-up | date=17 June 2019 }}</ref> From 2021 to November 2022, Lt-General MunirAsim was posted at GHQ as the Quartermaster General of Pakistan Army. In November 2022, Lieutenant General Munir was promoted to the four-star [[General officer|General]] rank and was appointed as the [[Chief of the Army Staff (Pakistan)|Chief of the Army Staff]] of the [[Pakistan Army]]. At the time of his appointment as COAS, Munir was the senior most [[Lieutenant general (Pakistan)|lieutenant general]] of the Pakistani army. In December 2022, General Asim Munir received the [[Nishan-e-Imtiaz|Nishan-i-Imtiaz (Military)]] award from [[President of Pakistan|President]] [[Arif Alvi]]. At the [[Aiwan-e-Sadr]], the top military officials were given special investitures in front of [[Prime Minister of Pakistan|Prime Minister]] [[Shehbaz Sharif]], [[diplomat]]s, [[Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan|lawmakers]], and [[Cabinet of Pakistan|federal ministers]] were present during the ceremony.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-12-08 |title=President Alvi confers Nishan-i-Imtiaz (military) on COAS, CJCSC |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2390092/president-alvi-confers-nishan-i-imtiaz-on-coas-cjcsc |access-date=2022-12-08 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en}}</ref>
 
General Asim Munir is the only recipient of [[Sword of Honour (Pakistan)|Sword of Honour]] who has risen to the position of army chief in the [[military history of Pakistan]]. AdditionallyBesides, he is the only army chief in the history of Pakistan who has earlier served as chief of both premier military intelligence agencies of Pakistan, namely, [[Inter-Services Intelligence]] and [[Military Intelligence (Pakistan)|Military Intelligence]].<ref name="GeoNews" />
 
General Asim Munir is the first Quartermaster General of [[Pakistan Army]] who has been elevated to the post of [[Chief of the Army Staff (Pakistan)|Chief of Army Staff]]. Munir is also first army chief who is not from [[Pakistan Military Academy|PMA]] but OTS, Mangla.
 
On his appointment as COAS, [[Al Jazeera Media Network|''Al-Jazeera'']] described Munir as an officer with an “impeccable reputation”,. whileWhile [[The Times of India|''The Times of India'']] described him as a "tough guy" for his hawkish attitude.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hussain |first=Abid |title=Who is Asim Munir, Pakistan’s new army chief? |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/11/24/who-is-asim-munir-pakistans-new-army-chief |access-date=2023-09-21 |website=www.aljazeera.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Sharan |first=Sunil |title=Asim Munir: The tough guy who became Pakistani army chief |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/strategic-insights/asim-munir-the-tough-guy-who-became-pakistani-army-chief/ |access-date=2023-09-21 |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>
 
== Personal life ==
 
Asim Munir is a [[Muslims|Muslim]], with Islam playing a key role in Munir’s life. He is described as a “deeply religious man”.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kugelman |first=Michael |date=2024-01-01 |title=Pakistan’s Army Chief Comes to Washington |url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/12/13/pakistan-army-chief-visit-washington-asim-munir/ |access-date=2023-12-28 |website=Foreign Policy |language=en-US}}</ref> Despite his affinity to [[Islam]], he has stressed the need for combating against [[Islamic extremism]], providing a safe nation for Pakistan’s [[Religious Minorities in Pakistan|religious minorities]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Army chief meets religious scholars, says no space for extremism against minorities in Pakistan |url=https://www.arabnews.com/node/2410641/amp |access-date=2023-12-28 |website=Arab News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Shah |first=Rizwan |date=2023-12-25 |title=General Asim Munir Stresses Interfaith Harmony at Christmas Celebration |url=https://bnnbreaking.com/world/pakistan/general-asim-munir-stresses-interfaith-harmony-at-christmas-celebration/ |access-date=2023-12-28 |website=BNN Breaking |language=en-US}}</ref>
 
Munir's family are locally known as a [[Hafiz (Quran)|hafiz]] family, as its many members are known to have memorised the entire Qu’ran by heart, including Munir.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-11-24 |title=Who is Lt gen Asim Munir? |url=https://newsman.pk/who-is-lt-gen-asim-munir/ |access-date=2023-11-23 |website=Newsman |language=en-US}}</ref>▼
 
Munir is a fitness enthusiast. He likes [[running]], [[Exercise|physical workout]] and [[sport]]s. He is a keen book reader and [[Traveller (role-playing game)|traveller]]. Munir is fluent in [[Arabic]], [[Urdu]], [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]] and [[English language|English]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hussain |first=Abid |title=Who is Asim Munir, Pakistan’s new army chief? |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/11/24/who-is-asim-munir-pakistans-new-army-chief |access-date=2023-07-30 |website=www.aljazeera.com |language=en}}</ref>▼
 
== Public image ==
Munir has been a polarising figure. He is applauded by some individuals for [[2023 Pakistan crackdown|cracking down]] on dollar hoarding and smuggling,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pakistani Minister Concedes Security Personnel Involved in Smuggling |url=https://www.voanews.com/amp/pakistani-minister-concedes-security-personnel-involved-in-smuggling/7293678.html |access-date=2023-12-02 |website=www.voanews.com}}</ref> which strengthened the [[Pakistani rupee]], causing it to be the world’s top-performing currency of September 2023.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Shahid |first=Ariba |date=2023-09-28 |title=FX clampdown boosts Pakistani rupee 6.1% to become September's top currency |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/markets/currencies/fx-clampdown-boosts-pakistani-rupee-61-become-septembers-top-currency-2023-09-28/ |access-date=2023-12-02}}</ref> Additionally, he contributed to the set up of the [[Special Investment Facilitation Council]], which aims to bring billions of dollars of investment from overseas, especially with the [[Arab states of the Persian Gulf|Gulf states]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chakraborty |first=Debdutta |last2=ThePrint |date=2023-11-28 |title='Well done army chief'—Pakistan general hailed for $25 billion deals with UAE, stocks soar |url=https://theprint.in/go-to-pakistan/well-done-army-chief-pakistan-general-hailed-for-25-billion-deals-with-uae-stocks-soar/1862437/ |access-date=2023-12-02 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US}}</ref> that are desperately needed amidst the [[2022–2023 Pakistani economic crisis|economic crisis]].
However, Munir is accused of intervening in civil politics,<ref>{{Cite news |title=Pakistan’s army is back in charge of politics |work=The Economist |url=https://www.economist.com/asia/2023/08/10/pakistans-army-is-back-in-charge-of-politics |access-date=2023-12-02 |issn=0013-0613}}</ref> despite only being trusted with the nation’s security and defence. <ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-08-08 |title=Imran Khan's supporters are silenced but determined |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-66436731 |access-date=2023-12-02 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> Munir has also allegedly suppressed [[Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf]] political movement in Pakistan led by [[Imran Khan]]. In the aftermath of [[May 9 riots]], following the arrest of Imran Khan on corruption allegations, Munir used military courts for civilians that rebelled against the army.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Imran Khan alleges ‘reign of terror’ as supporters face trial in military courts {{!}} Imran Khan {{!}} The Guardian |url=https://amp.theguardian.com/world/2023/may/19/pakistan-thousands-imran-khan-supporters-arrested-hundreds-face-trial |access-date=2023-12-02 |website=amp.theguardian.com}}</ref>
On May 20, 2023, Munir 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”.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wilsoncenter.org/blog-post/undermining-justice-court-martialing-civilians-pakistan|publisher=Wilson Center |title= Undermining Justice: Court-Martialing Civilians in Pakistan |date=2023-05-05 |accessdate=2023-10-25}}</ref> Furthermore, Munir exhorted army professionals to root out PTI inclined individuals.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://stratnewsglobal.com/articles/pak-army-chief-asim-munir-to-invoke-army-act-to-dock-masterminds-of-may-9-revolt/|publisher=StratNews Global |title= Pak Army Chief Asim Munir To Invoke Army Act To Dock Masterminds Of May 9 Revolt |date=2023-06-08 |accessdate=2023-10-25}}</ref> Human rights organizations raised the concerns that military trials lack the necessary safeguards and transparency, thereby exposing to the risk of potential miscarriages of justice.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wilsoncenter.org/blog-post/undermining-justice-court-martialing-civilians-pakistan|publisher=Wilson Center |title= Undermining Justice: Court-Martialing Civilians in Pakistan |date=2023-06-05 |accessdate=2023-10-25}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1759648 |title= HRCP concerned at NA resolution for trials in military courts |date=2023-06-14 |accessdate=2023-10-25}}</ref> In a landmark judgement, the Supreme Court of Pakistan declared the trial of civilians in military courts as null and void, thereby drawing a legal line between the civilian and military domain.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1783244/sc-strikes-down-military-justice-for-civilians|publisher=Dawn News |title= SC strikes down ‘military justice’ for civilians |date=2023-10-24 |accessdate=2023-10-25}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1783552|publisher=Dawn News |title= Military courts |date=2023-10-25 |accessdate=2023-10-25}}</ref>
In addition, he has also been criticised for the [[Deportation of undocumented Afghans from Pakistan|deportation of illegal Afghan refugees]], which he condones,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-26 |title=‘Security of every Pakistani important’: Army chief Gen Munir amid imminent deportation of migrants |url=https://www.firstpost.com/world/security-of-every-pakistani-important-army-chief-gen-munir-amid-imminent-deportation-of-migrants-13303202.html/amp |access-date=2023-12-02 |website=Firstpost |language=en}}</ref> despite their tough conditions.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-28 |title=Pakistan: Widespread Abuses Force Afghans to Leave {{!}} Human Rights Watch |url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/11/28/pakistan-widespread-abuses-force-afghans-leave |access-date=2023-12-02 |language=en}}</ref>
 
== Political views ==
 
▲Munir's family are locally known as a [[Hafiz (Quran)|hafiz]] family, as its many members are known to [[Hafiz (Quran)|have memorised the entire Qu’ran by heart, including Munir]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-11-24 |title=Who is Lt gen Asim Munir? |url=https://newsman.pk/who-is-lt-gen-asim-munir/ |access-date=2023-11-23 |website=Newsman |language=en-US}}</ref>
=== Foreign policy ===
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 primary geopolitcal partner, and centered 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.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sulehria |first=Naad-e-Ali |date=14 December 2023 |title=Pakistan’s military and foreign policy under Gen. Asim Munir |url=https://www.mei.edu/publications/pakistans-military-and-foreign-policy-under-gen-asim-munir |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240125191543/https://www.mei.edu/publications/pakistans-military-and-foreign-policy-under-gen-asim-munir |archive-date=25 January 2024 |access-date= |website=[[Middle East Institute]]}}</ref>
 
▲Asim Munir is a fitness enthusiast. He likes [[running]], [[Exercise|physical workout]] and [[sport]]s. He is a keen book reader and [[Traveller (role-playing game)|traveller]]. Munir is fluent in [[Arabic]], [[Urdu]], [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]] and [[English language|English]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hussain |first=Abid |title=Who is Asim Munir, Pakistan’s new army chief? |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/11/24/who-is-asim-munir-pakistans-new-army-chief |access-date=2023-07-30 |website=www.aljazeera.com |language=en}}</ref>
He has been critical of Pakistan's neighbors, 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 [[Two-nation theory|concept of Pakistan]], then how can we reconcile with it."<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 January 2024 |title=COAS sets out foreign policy redlines |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2454331/coas-sets-out-foreign-policy-redlines |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240125191404/https://tribune.com.pk/story/2454331/coas-sets-out-foreign-policy-redlines |archive-date=25 January 2024 |access-date= |website=[[The Express Tribune]]}}</ref>
 
▲Munir graduated from the [[JGSDF Camp Takigahara|Fuji school, Japan]], the [[Command and Staff College, Quetta]], the Malaysian Armed Forces College, [[Kuala Lumpur]] and the [[National Defence University, Islamabad]], where he earned his [[MPhil]] in Public Policy and Strategic Security Management.<ref name="GeoNews">{{Cite web|title=A brief look at General Asim Munir's career|url=https://www.geo.tv/latest/454445-a-brief-look-at-lt-gen-asim-munirs-career|date=29 November 2022|website=[[Geo News]]}}</ref>
=== Social conservatism ===
While speaking to a gathering of students from various public and private sector universities of the country, Munir appeared as a [[Social conservatism|social conservative]], warning the youth against [[social media]] and [[Westernization]], eventually asking that "If we want to adopt [[Western culture|Western civilization]], then why did we get rid of [[Hinduism|Hindu civilization]]?".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rana |first=Shahbaz |date=24 January 2024 |title=Elected govt doesn’t get a free pass: COAS |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2454258/coas-munir-warns-youth-against-pitfalls-of-social-media |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240125191509/https://tribune.com.pk/story/2454258/coas-munir-warns-youth-against-pitfalls-of-social-media |archive-date=25 January 2024 |access-date= |website=The Express Tribune}}</ref>
 
==Dates of promotion==
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asim_Munir"