LAHORE: Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, who took over as country’s 11th Army Chief on November 29, 2022, has completed 1,000 action-packed days as head of country’s army.
He had assumed charge amid tough political and economic challenges, and at a time when country was still facing the raging monster of terrorism.
Not only did the Field Marshal take decisions regarding crackdown on crimes, smuggling and hoarding, he also initiated diplomatic efforts to enhance country’s global image.
While he increased the capacity and capability of Pakistan Army, bulls have mostly been trampling all over bears at country’s bourses during his tenure.
The Pakistan Stock Exchange has since gone on to break and set all sorts of new records. Inflation has visibly nose-dived.
A much-needed campaign was also launched during this period against the foreigners living illegally in Pakistan.
Quoting Radio Pakistan, the “Arab News” said over 913,300 illegal Afghans were deported from Pakistan alone.
Field Marshal Asim is Pakistan’s only Army Chief who headed the Military Intelligence (MI) and the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) both, besides being the first army chief who earned the prestigious “Sword of Honour.”
On May 20, 2025, he was conferred the baton of Field Marshal in recognition of his exceptional leadership during Pakistan’s military clashes with India and the successful execution of “Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos.”
Soon after holding keys to the powerful office, he undertook official visits to United States, Saudi Arabia, UAE, China and numerous Central Asian states.
In October 2018, General Asim Munir was appointed as 23rd Director General of the Inter-Services Intelligence.
In February 2025, he was accorded a ceremonial guard of honor in United Kingdom, where he participated in the Regional Stabilization Conference at the esteemed “Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.”
During his afore-mentioned visit, he had met British Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Tony Radakin, Chief of the General Staff of the British Army, General Sir Roland Walker, and UK National Security Advisor, Jonathan Nicholas Powell.
On August 13 this year, on behalf of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, country’s First Deputy Minister of Defence and Chief of the General Staff, Colonel General Valiyev, conferred the Patriotic War Medal upon the Pakistani Field Marshal.
After country’s Foreign Direct Investment had plunged to a 12-year low in June 2023, the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) was established to act as a ‘single window’ for facilitating prospective investors.
General Asim attended many SIFC meetings and expressed concern over the exit of foreign investment in domestic bonds following the COVID-19 pandemic.
In April 2025, while addressing the Pakistan Mineral Investment Forum, he extended an invitation to international institutions to collaborate with Pakistan in exploring and developing its vast mineral resources, viewing there was a dire need for engineers, geologists, operators and skilled miners to explore country’s mineral wealth.
In June 2025, Pakistan and United States reignited diplomatic momentum as President Donald Trump welcomed Field Marshal Asim Munir at the White House for lunch.
Along with Director-General of Inter-Service Intelligence, Asim Malik, and Interior Minister, Mohsin Naqvi, the Field Marshal met President Trump, signaling a renewed push for bilateral cooperation.
In July 2025, he undertook a visit to China and called on Vice President, Han Zheng, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission, and Chief of Staff of PLA Army, General Cai Zhai Jun.
In March 2024, General Asim met the Saudi Crown Prince, Muhammad bin Salman, in Saudi Arabia.
In June 2024, he and Chinese President, Xi Jinping, met each other in Beijing.
In September 2024, Russian Deputy Prime Minister, Alexey Overchuk, called on General Asim at the General Headquarters (GHQ) during his official visit to Pakistan.
In November 2024, he met Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Mohammed bin Salman, at the Royal PalacIn May 2024, he expressed concerns regarding “negative propaganda” on social media platforms and affirmed the military’s readiness to foil any conspiracies. He strongly denounced the dissemination of “disinformation” in Pakistan’s cyberspace, whereby cautioning that “inimical” forces had unleashed “digital terrorism” and were intensifying efforts to sow discord between the Pakistan Armed Forces and the public by spreading “lies, fake news and propaganda.”
In August 2024, he warned that social media was being exploited to propagate “anarchy.”
In January 2023, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE, met General Asim Munir at the Za’abeel Palace in the presence of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai.
In February 2023, General Asim Munir met the UAE President, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, in Abu Dhabi to discuss various aspects of bilateral relations.
In May 2023, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and General Asim again met.
It was also in 2023 that a severe crackdown was launched in black currency market to apprehend those manipulating and hoarding the Dollar.
The Pakistani rupee consequently found itself devalued to its weakest in its history as the Rupee-Dollar parity worsened to Rs308 at one stage, leading to an economic crisis.
The army chief was hailed by business community for taking keen interest in this context.
These crackdowns helped the Pakistani rupee rebound to become the world’s best-performing currency in September 2023.
In May 2023, General Asim toured Oman and Qatar.
In Oman, he called on Commander of the Royal Omani Army, and in Qatar, he met country’s Amir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani.
General Asim then visited the United States in December 2023, being hosted by the US Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Charles Brown, and US Deputy National Security Adviser, Jonathen Finer.
