Islamabad, May 20, 2025: In a historic move, the federal cabinet on Tuesday has approved the promotion of Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir to the prestigious rank of Field Marshal for his bold leadership, strategic brilliance, and the crucial role he played during Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos.
The rank of field marshal is the highest rank of armies built on the patron of the British Army. General Mohammad Ayub Khan was conferred the rank by the presidential cabinet.
The verdict was made during a federal cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. During meeting, PM Shehbaz praised General Munir’s exceptional command of the armed forces, which played a key role in defeating offensive aggression launched by India on the night of May 6 and 7, 2025.
Acknowledging his bravery, strategic command, and contribution to safeguarding the nation’s sovereignty, PM Shehbaz Sharif proposed General Asim Munir’s promotion to the rank of Field Marshal. The proposal received full support from the federal cabinet and was unanimously passed.
The Prime Minister also later met with President Asif Ali Zardari and took him in confidence regarding the cabinet decision.
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Upon receiving the honour, General Asim Munir expressed deep gratitude to Almighty Allah, dedicating the promotion to the people of Pakistan, the armed forces, and in particular to the martyrs as well as the nation’s veterans.
In a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), he said “I am grateful to the president of Pakistan, the prime minister and the cabinet for their trust,” adding that the honour was the trust of the nation, for which “millions of Asims have sacrificed themselves”.
“This is not an individual honour but an honour for the armed forces of Pakistan and the entire nation,” he said.
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In another significant development, the government also decided to extend the tenure of Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu, recognizing his valuable service and continuity of leadership in the air force during the critical operation. Air Chief Zaheer, who had already been granted a one-year extension, will now continue to serve beyond his current term.
Furthermore, the cabinet resolved that military personnel, war veterans, martyrs, and civilians who showed exceptional service during the conflict will be honored with top state awards in recognition of their dedication and sacrifice for the nation.
