Pakistan govt promotes Military Chief Normal Asim Munir as Area Marshal

Pakistan Military Chief Normal Asim Munir promoted to Area Marshal for management in battle with India, authorized by PM Shehbaz Sharif. File
| Picture Credit score: AP

Pakistan Military Chief Normal Asim Munir was on Tuesday (Could 20, 2025) promoted because the Area Marshal for “efficiently” main the armed forces within the current battle with India, state-run TV reported. That is the primary time in nearly 60 years {that a} common has been elevated to the function.

The choice was taken at a cupboard assembly chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

It got here “in recognition of the strategic brilliance and brave management that ensured nationwide safety and decisively defeated the enemy,” PM Sharif mentioned in an announcement from his workplace to Reuters.

A safety official mentioned the sphere marshal was a ceremonial five-star rank that often signifies extraordinary management and wartime achievement.

“The promotion is the primary since Pakistani dictator Normal Ayub Khan made himself a discipline marshal in 1965,” he mentioned. With the brand new ceremonial rank, he mentioned, “Mr. Munir will stay the military chief.

The state-run PTV reported that the cupboard took the necessary choice to “promote Normal Asim Munir as Area Marshal” of the nation.

The choice was taken for his “exemplary function” within the battle with India, it added.

The cupboard additionally determined to increase the service of Pakistan Air Power chief Air Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu after his service time period expires, the PM’s workplace mentioned.

It didn’t say for the way lengthy Sidhu’s job could be prolonged, nor did it say whether or not Munir’s promotion to the rank of discipline marshal will imply that he has no retirement date.