Asim Munir, the Chief of the Pakistan Army, has become a focal point of discussion following the devastating terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, which claimed the lives of 26 people, mostly tourists. His provocative speech shortly before the attack, in which he referred to Kashmir as Pakistan’s “jugular vein” and reiterated ‘two-nation theory’, is widely seen as a catalyst for the violence.
Indian officials, including Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, have linked Asim Munir’s communal and militant rhetoric to the timing and nature of the Pahalgam attack, suggesting that his statements served as a dog whistle for militant groups to escalate their operations.
Further fuelling the controversy are allegations and rumours circulating on social media about Asim Munir’s possible arrest or ouster within Pakistan’s military establishment, reflecting internal dissent or power struggles. Former Pakistani army officer Major Adil Raja has publicly accused Asim Munir of orchestrating the Pahalgam attack to consolidate personal political power, likening his ambitions to those of former military ruler Zia-ul-Haq.
