Pakistani Defense Minister said – Munir is not my boss: Army no longer runs the government, there was interference in history, now the system is different

Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has said that Field Marshal Asim Munir is not his boss. He made it clear that his boss is Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif. In an interview given to France 24 English on February 18, he was asked whether Asim Munir was running the government of Pakistan. He acknowledged that in the past the military had ruled directly. Asif said, Pakistan has a system. There have been periods in our history when the army had control over the government. There was a time when the army intervened and took the reins of power into its own hands. He said that at present Pakistan is facing challenges like threat from Afghanistan, terrorism, tension with India and weak economy. In such a situation, the Pakistani Army is supporting the government. Had earlier said – Government and army run the country together. Earlier, in an interview given last year, Khwaja Asif had said that in Pakistan, government and army run the country together. Asif had said that Pakistan is being run on a hybrid model. Asif has praised the hybrid model many times before. In an old interview given to Arab News, he had said that Pakistan’s political system is not an ideal democracy, but it is necessary. He had said that this model is doing ‘wonders’ in solving Pakistan’s economic and governance problems. Accusing India-Afghanistan of running a proxy war, Khwaja Asif has said that India and the Taliban government of Afghanistan are jointly running a proxy war against Pakistan. He said that New Delhi and Kabul have the same thinking regarding attacks on Pakistan. Asif said that if needed, Pakistan can take action again in Afghanistan. He said that if no concrete guarantee of peace is received from Afghanistan, then Pakistan will not shy away from launching new attacks there. Asif also said that the possibility of war with India is still not over. Holding Kabul responsible for terrorist attacks, referring to the recent bomb blast in a Shia mosque in Islamabad, Asif said that almost all major terrorist organizations have presence in Pakistan. He alleged that the Kabul government is not serious in stopping terrorism. According to him, it would be more correct to call it not mere negligence but collusion. 31 people died and 169 were injured in this suicide attack during Namaz on 6 February. The Islamic State group has taken responsibility for this attack. ‘There is no question of normalizing relations with Israel’ Asif has said that without Palestinians getting their rights, there is no question of normalizing relations with Israel. He made it clear that Pakistan is not even considering this option right now. He was questioned about Pakistan’s role in a possible international peacekeeping mission in Gaza. On this Asif said that Pakistan’s participation will depend on what kind of conditions are set for that peacekeeping force. He said that Pakistan has long experience of working in United Nations peacekeeping missions. If the circumstances and conditions are right, joining Gaza could be a good opportunity to move towards a two-state solution. Asim Munir is the most powerful man in Pakistan. Asim Munir has become the most powerful man in Pakistan. He was appointed the country’s first Chief of Defense Forces (CDF) and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) by the government on 4 December 2025. His tenure on both the posts will be five years. Munir is the first military officer of Pakistan to hold both the posts of CDF and COAS simultaneously. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had sent a summary to the President recommending the appointment. Munir was promoted to the post of Field Marshal this year. On November 12, the Pakistani Parliament passed the 27th constitutional amendment to increase the strength of the army. Under this, Munir was made CDF. As soon as he got this post, he also got the command of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons, that is, he became the most powerful person in the country. In fact, on 29 November 2022, General Asim Munir was appointed Army Chief. His original tenure was of three years, i.e. ending on 28 November 2025. ————————- Also read this news related to Khwaja Asif… Pakistani Defense Minister said – America used us: Thrown away like toilet paper when the meaning came out; Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif, who is still paying the price of supporting Pakistan, said in Parliament last week that America used Pakistan for its own benefit and after completing its work, threw it away like toilet paper. Read the full news here…



Source link