Pakistan Army chief and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir has emerged as one of the country’s most influential figures, with his diplomatic profile expanding even as political, economic and security pressures continue to build at home. His growing international visibility has strengthened his position abroad, but it also raises questions about the stability of the system he now occupies at the centre of.

Munir’s expanding role comes against the backdrop of Pakistan’s continuing economic difficulties, tensions with Iran, unrest in parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the unresolved political confrontation involving jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). Together, these pressures present a more complicated picture than Pakistan’s increasingly visible military diplomacy might suggest.

Iran ties face economic and diplomatic pressure

Pakistan’s relationship with Iran remains one of the more difficult challenges. The long-delayed Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline has already been the subject of an arbitration dispute after Pakistan failed to meet commitments connected with the project.

Trade and transit ties with Iran also carry risks amid wider US sanctions pressure. Pakistan has sought to expand trade routes connecting third countries with Iran, while maintaining that its commercial activities comply with international obligations. Any tightening of sanctions enforcement could, however, complicate Islamabad’s balancing act between Tehran and Washington.

For Munir, who has increasingly presented himself as a regional interlocutor, managing this relationship will require more than diplomatic visibility. Pakistan has significant economic and security interests along its western border, making stability with Iran particularly important.

Economic weaknesses remain a major concern

Pakistan’s economic position continues to constrain the government’s room for manoeuvre. The country remains dependent on external financing, remittances and borrowing, while its narrow export base and limited foreign investment remain structural weaknesses.

The scale of Pakistan’s energy-sector financial problems is also significant. A Finance Division report had highlighted circular debt across the oil, gas and power sectors of more than Rs 4.9 trillion. At the same time, official parliamentary records have distinguished this broader figure from the circular debt specifically accumulated in the electricity sector. (Finance Division)

These problems matter for the military establishment as well. Economic instability can restrict government spending, increase public dissatisfaction and make long-term security planning more difficult.

Police-military tensions add pressure

Security challenges in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have added another layer to the internal strain. Police and local security personnel have raised concerns over the security situation and the effectiveness of existing arrangements in areas repeatedly targeted by militants.

The underlying problem is particularly serious because Pakistan’s security forces are already dealing with persistent militant violence. Any perception that civilian policing structures are inadequately supported can deepen institutional tensions at a time when the state is seeking to contain unrest.

Imran Khan remains a political flashpoint

The confrontation with Imran Khan and PTI continues to represent one of the most sensitive political issues for the military-backed power structure.

In March 2026, a Rawalpindi anti-terrorism court sentenced 47 PTI leaders and workers to 10 years in prison in connection with the May 9, 2023 violence and the attack on the General Headquarters. The verdict was delivered against proclaimed offenders tried in absentia and included fines and property confiscation orders. (HumEnglish)

The continuing imprisonment and prosecution of senior PTI figures have kept political tensions alive. PTI-backed independent candidates had performed strongly in the 2024 general election, making the party’s continued exclusion from formal political power an important factor in Pakistan’s political landscape.

For Munir, the challenge is therefore not simply to manage an opposition party but to prevent political polarisation from becoming a wider institutional crisis.

Changes inside the military command

The restructuring of Pakistan’s higher military command has further strengthened Munir’s institutional position.

In July, Lieutenant General Aamer Raza was promoted to four-star general and appointed the first Commander of the National Strategic Command. The new position was created following changes to Pakistan’s military command structure under the 27th Constitutional Amendment. (Radio Pakistan)

Raza formally assumed command later that month and met Munir at General Headquarters in Rawalpindi. (Dawn)

The appointment is significant because it represents a reorganisation of responsibility at the highest level of Pakistan’s defence establishment. It also illustrates the broader transformation of the country’s military command architecture under Munir’s leadership.

A stronger Munir does not necessarily mean a more stable Pakistan

Munir’s international profile may suggest increasing influence, but influence at the top cannot by itself resolve Pakistan’s underlying problems.

The country still faces economic pressures, militant violence, political polarisation, institutional tensions and difficult relationships with neighbouring states. These challenges are interconnected: economic weakness can deepen public frustration, political conflict can undermine governance, and security instability can further constrain investment and development.

For India, the most important question is how these internal pressures affect Pakistan’s external behaviour. A leadership facing domestic difficulties may seek diplomatic engagement and economic stability, but it could also become more willing to adopt a harder security posture to consolidate political support.

Munir’s rise therefore needs to be viewed against the wider condition of Pakistan. His growing authority may make the military establishment more central to decision-making, but the greater concentration of power also means that the consequences of policy failures will increasingly be associated with the same leadership.

The central challenge for Pakistan is not simply how high its army chief rises internationally. It is whether the institutions and economy beneath that leadership can remain stable enough to support the country’s long-term political and security interests.

 Pakistan has carried out fresh airstrikes in Balochistan amid a surge in attacks by the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) against Pakistani security forces, according to reports citing intelligence sources.

The latest escalation comes after the BLA claimed that its fighters had killed 32 Pakistani soldiers in attacks across the province this month.

According to sources cited by CNN-News18, Pakistani aircraft carried out strikes in areas including Surab and Gwadar. The sources claimed that at least 21 civilians, including women and children, were killed in the strikes. The casualty figures have not been independently verified.

BLA Launches Multiple Attacks

The reported Pakistani strikes came as the BLA carried out a series of attacks against security forces at multiple locations in Balochistan.

According to the reports, the group launched six attacks, primarily targeting police and military personnel.

In Chagai district, BLA members reportedly attacked and destroyed a police station in a midnight bombing, killing three security personnel.

Other reported attacks included an assault on a Pakistani military camp in Jhao, an attack on a security forces convoy along the Khuzdar RCD Highway, and an ambush targeting military vehicles in Wadh.

The group also reportedly attacked a security checkpoint in the Manguchar Bazaar area.

In Yakmach, BLA militants reportedly ambushed commercial vehicles and hijacked a truck.

Casualty figures from these overnight attacks were not immediately available.

Pakistan Reports Insurgent Casualties

Earlier on Wednesday, Pakistani authorities said security forces had killed 10 insurgents during clashes in Balochistan.

Authorities also reported a failed car-bombing attempt in which explosives detonated prematurely.

According to Pakistani officials, the incident killed at least 11 people, including eight people allegedly involved in preparing the explosives and three people inside a nearby house.

The incidents have added to growing concerns over a fresh escalation between Pakistani security forces and Baloch insurgent groups.

Civilian Casualties Reported

The latest airstrikes have also raised concerns over civilian casualties.

Sources cited in the reports said that strikes in Surab and Gwadar killed at least 21 civilians, including women and children.

The claims have not been independently confirmed, and there has been no comprehensive independent assessment of the reported civilian toll.

The competing claims over casualties come as both sides intensify military operations and attacks across the province.

Long-Running Baloch Insurgency

Balochistan has faced an armed insurgency for decades, with several Baloch nationalist groups demanding greater autonomy or independence from Pakistan.

The Baloch Liberation Army is among the most prominent armed groups involved in the conflict. It has carried out attacks against Pakistani military personnel, police, infrastructure and other targets.

Baloch nationalist groups argue that the region's integration into Pakistan was not voluntary and have accused Islamabad of political and economic exploitation.

Pakistan has rejected such claims and has consistently described the armed groups operating in the province as militant and terrorist organisations.

Resource-Rich but Poor Province

Balochistan is Pakistan's largest province by area and has significant reserves of natural resources.

Despite its mineral and energy wealth, it remains Pakistan's poorest province, with local communities frequently complaining that they have not benefited adequately from the region's resources.

Baloch activists have also alleged discrimination against the Baloch population and accused Pakistan's federal government and political establishment of exploiting the province's natural wealth.

Islamabad has maintained that development and security efforts are necessary to counter militancy and improve stability in the region.

Escalation Raises Regional Concerns

The latest cycle of BLA attacks and Pakistani military operations marks another escalation in the long-running Balochistan conflict.

With militant attacks continuing alongside air and ground operations by Pakistani security forces, concerns are growing over further civilian casualties and displacement.

The competing claims made by Pakistani authorities and the BLA are likely to remain difficult to independently verify, particularly in areas where access for journalists and independent observers is limited.

Further developments will depend on whether Pakistan expands its military campaign and whether the BLA continues its attacks against security and military targets across the province.

Fresh allegations have emerged regarding Pakistan’s security establishment and its alleged links with extremist networks. According to a report, efforts are underway to politically contain Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman after he publicly criticised Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir and questioned his security policies.

The claims, reported by CNN-News18, centre on a meeting between Pakistan Ulema Council Chairman Hafiz Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi and Hafiz Talha Saeed, the son of UN-designated terrorist Hafiz Saeed. Intelligence sources quoted in the report described the meeting as a strategic discussion aimed at formulating a coordinated response to Fazlur Rehman’s recent remarks against the military leadership.

According to the report, the meeting took place at Markaz Quba and involved discussions on managing the political fallout from Rehman’s criticism. Sources indicated that participants explored ways to reduce his growing influence without triggering a direct confrontation with one of Pakistan’s most prominent religious and political figures.

Strategy to Manage Dissent

Fazlur Rehman has in recent months emerged as one of the most vocal critics of General Asim Munir’s leadership, questioning both security policies and governance decisions. His statements have attracted attention across Pakistan’s political landscape and have added pressure on an establishment that traditionally wields significant influence over national affairs.

Sources cited in the report claimed that the gathering focused on adopting a calibrated approach toward Rehman. Rather than openly confronting him, those involved reportedly discussed highlighting positive aspects of his political career while simultaneously discouraging further criticism of the military.

The report alleged that Lashkar-e-Taiba-linked figures advised clerics to maintain a softer public tone while conveying a clear warning against continued attacks on the army leadership. Observers view such an approach as an attempt to manage dissent through informal networks rather than through conventional political channels.

Questions Over Military Links

The allegations have once again raised concerns about the relationship between Pakistan’s military establishment and extremist organisations. Security analysts have long argued that some groups originally cultivated for strategic purposes have gradually become part of broader political calculations within the country.

According to the report, Pakistan’s military establishment views certain religious and militant-linked networks as a mechanism to shield itself from rising political criticism. The alleged use of such actors as a “domestic firewall” reflects concerns about the growing challenge posed by political dissent.

If proven, the claims would further intensify international scrutiny of Pakistan’s handling of organisations that remain linked to designated terrorist entities.

Echoes of Balochistan

The latest controversy also recalls previous allegations involving Balochistan, where activists and rights groups have accused state agencies of using proxy networks to intimidate critics and suppress dissent.

In 2025, reports alleged that Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) was using Islamic State-linked cells to threaten Baloch activists. Rights campaigners claimed that extremist propaganda circulating at the time closely mirrored narratives promoted by sections of Pakistan’s security establishment.

A Baloch activist, speaking anonymously in those reports, argued that both ISIS-linked groups and state agencies sought to portray peaceful rights campaigners as supporters of militancy. According to activists, such efforts were aimed at undermining growing international awareness of alleged human rights violations and resource exploitation in the province.

Pakistan’s authorities have consistently denied allegations linking state institutions to extremist organisations. However, concerns surrounding civil-military relations and the influence of militant networks continue to attract attention from international observers and policy experts.

A fresh controversy has emerged in Pakistan’s political discourse after a media report alleged that the removal of former Prime Minister Imran Khan in 2022 was not merely the result of a parliamentary no-confidence motion, but part of a broader geopolitical strategy involving the United States and the Pakistan military establishment.

The report, published by an international media outlet, claims that tensions between Washington and Islamabad escalated after Imran Khan’s visit to Moscow on 24 February 2022, the same day Russia launched its military operation in Ukraine. According to the report, the visit angered the United States, which expected Pakistan to take a clear anti-Russia stance on the conflict. Imran Khan’s government, however, maintained a neutral position on the Russia-Ukraine war, refusing to directly condemn Moscow. This, according to the report, marked a turning point in US-Pakistan diplomatic relations.

The allegations further claim that on 7 March 2022, a key meeting took place in Washington between Pakistan’s then ambassador Asad Majeed Khan and US Assistant Secretary of State Donald Lu. During this interaction, Lu reportedly conveyed that if Imran Khan were removed through a no-confidence vote, the United States would “forgive everything” and restore normal relations. This alleged communication later became central to Pakistan’s domestic political debate and formed the basis of the so-called “Cypher case,” which Imran Khan repeatedly cited as evidence of foreign interference in his removal.

According to the report, a lunch meeting in Washington further intensified pressure, where concerns were raised about Pakistan’s foreign policy direction under Imran Khan. The US side reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with Pakistan’s stance on Russia and warned of diplomatic isolation if policy alignment did not change. The timeline presented in the report suggests that just 33 days after the alleged diplomatic exchange, on 9 April 2022, Imran Khan lost power following a successful no-confidence motion in Pakistan’s parliament. Shortly after, Shehbaz Sharif became the new Prime Minister.

The report also highlights subsequent political developments in Pakistan, suggesting that the country’s internal power structure underwent significant changes after Imran Khan’s removal. These include leadership transitions within the military establishment and increased political instability, including mass protests and legal cases against PTI leadership. In November 2022, Pakistan’s army leadership changed when General Asim Munir replaced General Qamar Javed Bajwa as Chief of Army Staff. Imran Khan has previously alleged that this appointment was politically influenced, though no official confirmation has supported the claim.

In May 2023, Imran Khan was arrested in a corruption case, triggering widespread protests and unrest across the country. The political situation further intensified when his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), faced restrictions and internal fragmentation ahead of the 2024 general elections. Despite electoral setbacks, PTI-backed independent candidates reportedly performed strongly in the polls, but a coalition government was eventually formed by rival parties Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).

The report also suggests that Pakistan’s relations with the United States improved significantly after Imran Khan’s removal. Bilateral cooperation reportedly expanded into strategic, economic and defense-related areas, marking a shift from the earlier strained ties. However, these claims remain politically sensitive and highly contested. The United States has consistently denied allegations of orchestrating regime change in Pakistan, maintaining that the 2022 political transition was an internal constitutional process.

Imran Khan, on his part, has repeatedly maintained that his government was removed due to a foreign-backed conspiracy. He has linked the alleged “Cypher” diplomatic communication to his claim that external pressure played a decisive role in the no-confidence vote. The new report has reignited debate within Pakistan’s political landscape, particularly among supporters of PTI, who argue that the allegations validate long-standing claims of foreign interference. PTI leaders have described the report as further proof supporting their stance on the Cypher controversy.

Imran Khan, who has been in prison since August 2023, continues to face multiple legal cases. He has been convicted in several cases, including the Al-Qadir Trust case and earlier Cypher-related charges, though some convictions have been overturned or suspended by higher courts. As political tensions continue, the narrative surrounding Imran Khan’s ouster remains deeply polarised, reflecting broader divisions within Pakistan’s politics and its complex relationship with global powers.