Referring to the four-day military standoff between India and Pakistan in early May, Munir said, “We felt Allah’s help, which stopped the situation from completely getting out of control.” The confrontation followed India’s May 7 strikes on terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir under Operation Sindoor, launched after a terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22 that killed 26 civilians. The hostilities ended on May 10 after both sides agreed to de-escalation. During the conflict, India claimed it destroyed 11 Pakistani airbases.
In his address, Munir repeatedly invoked religious themes, portraying Pakistan as a nation with a special spiritual responsibility. He compared the country to the early Islamic state established by Prophet Muhammad and said Pakistan holds a unique position among Islamic nations. Despite there being 57 Muslim-majority countries, Munir said Pakistan has been given the “honour” of protecting Islam’s holiest sites, Mecca and Medina.
Munir also turned his focus to security concerns along Pakistan’s western border, urging Afghanistan’s Taliban-led government to make a clear choice between Islamabad and the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). He claimed that around 70% of TTP militants infiltrating Pakistan are Afghan nationals and questioned Kabul’s responsibility for violence inside Pakistan.
Stressing the role of the state, Munir said only a government has the authority to declare jihad in any Islamic country, adding that religious decrees issued without state approval are illegitimate. He further alleged that cross-border movement from Afghanistan has contributed significantly to Pakistan’s internal security challenges.
Munir’s remarks come amid heightened regional tensions and underline the military leadership’s continued influence on Pakistan’s security and foreign policy discourse.
