ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s army chief General Asim Munir is the most powerful man in the country, but his popular support has surged after the worst conflict in decades with arch-rival India, shattering criticism of interference in politics and harshly cracking down on opponents.

A grateful government on Tuesday gave him a rare promotion to Field Marshal “in recognition of the strategic brilliance and courageous leadership that ensured national security and decisively defeated the enemy.”

The military has ruled Pakistan for at least three decades since independence in 1947 and wielded extraordinary influence even with a civilian government in office. But it, and its hard-line chief, have rarely received the widespread outpouring of affection seen this month that analysts say has reinforced the military’s dominance in the nuclear-armed nation.

“Long live General Asim Munir!” read placards held aloft in rallies in recent days in towns across Pakistan. His picture was put up on lamp posts and bridges, with some banners saying: “You are our savior!“

A survey conducted after the conflict by Gallup Pakistan, a local pollster, found that 93 percent of respondents felt their opinion of the military had improved.

Munir’s most bitter domestic foe, jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan, also congratulated the military after this month’s clashes with India, claimed by both nations as a victory.

“It’s my country, it’s my army,” Khan said in a post on X last week. “I pay tribute to the Pakistan Air Force and all our military personnel for their professionalism and outstanding performance.”

Yousuf Nazar, a political commentator, said of Munir: . “He has emerged as Pakistan’s strongman with his military’s reputation restored as a formidable force.”

Six months after he took charge in November 2022, Munir was faced with the most serious challenge to the military’s hegemony when Khan’s supporters attacked and ransacked military installations.

Munir later faced sharp domestic criticism for the jailing of Khan and cracking down on supporters of his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, as well as what critics alleged was rigging the general election last year to favor a rival party.

But the conflict with India has turned that around, said Ayesha Siddiqa, author of Military Inc, a book on the Pakistan military.

“It has made the general stronger than any other previous generals. He is a hero now,” she said, adding that the contest between the neighbors will be headed by two hard-liners, India’s Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistan’s Munir, a devout Muslim.

“It’s an Islamist general versus a religious strongman,” she said.

The military did not respond to questions sent by Reuters.

FUNDAMENTAL DIFFERENCE

The spark for the latest fighting between the neighbors was an April 22 attack in Indian Kashmir that killed 26 people, most of them tourists. New Delhi blamed the incident on “terrorists” backed by Pakistan, a charge denied by Islamabad.

On May 7, the Indian military carried out air strikes on what it called “terrorist infrastructure” in Pakistan, in response to the attack in Kashmir.

Pakistan claimed to have downed at least 5-6 Indian fighter jets and carried out air strikes on Indian military bases. India has indicated that it suffered some losses and inflicted major damage on key Pakistani air bases and air defiance systems.

Munir, who has memorized the Muslim holy book, the Qur’an, has publicly underlined what he has said are fundamental differences between Islamic Pakistan and predominantly Hindu India.

“Our religion is different. Our customs are different. Our traditions are different,” he said in a speech in Islamabad a week before the attack in Indian Kashmir.

The Indian army “with all their wherewithal” cannot “intimidate” Pakistan, he said, peppering his comments with verses from the Qur’an.

“Pakistan needs to be a hard state.”

Pakistan’s counterstrike against India was named by him as “Bunyan Marsoos,” after a Qur’anic verse, which means Iron Wall, according to the military. It was launched on May 10 to coincide with dawn prayers, considered an auspicious time for Muslims.

Munir, the son of a schoolteacher, is an infantry officer and a former head of both the powerful Inter-Services Intelligence and Military Intelligence. He remains army chief until November 2027 and could be appointed for another five-year term at that point.

Husain Haqqani, a former Pakistani ambassador to the United States, said that even before the latest conflict, Munir was more hawkish on India than his predecessor General Qamar Javed bajwa as army chief, who had taken a more pragmatic and less ideological approach, seeking to improve relations.

“Conflicts with India remind Pakistanis of the fragility of their country and they rally to their army as the entity that will save the country,” said Haqqani.

“The recent show of strength and standing up to India has helped General Munir solidify his position within the country.”

Following are some recent deadly attacks in Pakistan, where the government is facing insurgencies on two fronts — militant attacks in the northwest and a growing separatist insurgency in the south.

MAY 21, 2025 
At least three children were among five people killed when a suicide bomber targeted an army school bus in the restive Pakistani southwestern province of Balochistan, in an attack the military blamed on Indian proxies.
The Indian government did not respond to a request for comment on the accusation.

MARCH 11, 2025
A total of 31 people, including soldiers, staff, and civilians, were killed by militants who hijacked a train as it traveled through a remote mountain pass in Balochistan. The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), the biggest of several ethnic armed groups fighting the government, claimed responsibility.

MARCH 4, 2025
Suicide bombers drove two vehicles packed with explosives into a military base in the town of Bannu in the northwest, killing 18 people, including six children.
No group claimed responsibility for the violence.

NOVEMBER 1, 2024 
A blast targeting a police van in Mastung town in Balochistan killed seven people, including five school students, and injured 23 others.
No group claimed responsibility.

AUGUST 26, 2024 
At least 38 civilians and 14 soldiers were killed as separatist militants attacked police stations, railway lines and highways in Balochistan, and security forces launched retaliatory operations.
The BLA claimed responsibility for the attacks, the most widespread in the country in years.

DECEMBER 12, 2023 
At least 57 people, including seven children, died as suicide bombings ripped through two mosques in Mastung while believers marked the birthday of the Prophet Muhammed (pbuh).
No group claimed responsibility.

JULY 31, 2023 
A suicide bombing targeting a hard-line religious group’s political rally in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province’s Bajaur region killed 56 people. The Daesh militant group claimed responsibility for the blast, which took place in northwestern Pakistan.