ABBOTTABAD (THE THURSDAY TIMES) — Addressing the passing-out parade at the Pakistan Military Academy in Kakul, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir reaffirmed Pakistan’s principled stance on global and regional issues, warning India that any act of aggression would meet an overwhelming and unexpected response.
He said Pakistan remained firmly committed to the two-state solution for Palestine, calling for the establishment of an independent, sovereign, and viable Palestinian state within pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
Pakistan remains firmly committed to its principled stance that the only just and lasting solution to the Palestinian issue lies in the two-state formula — calling for the establishment of an independent, sovereign, and viable State of Palestine within the pre 1967 borders, with… pic.twitter.com/uaGoyfxaow
— The Thursday Times (@thursday_times) October 18, 2025
Reflecting on national defence, Field Marshal Munir said the Pakistan Armed Forces, with the nation’s unwavering support, had defended the country’s borders with conviction, confidence, and pride since independence. He cited the recent Operation Maarka-e-Haq, in which Pakistan demonstrated its military prowess by successfully targeting India’s Rafale jets and S-400 defence systems while showcasing advanced naval capabilities. The operation, he said, strengthened public confidence and sent a clear message to the world that Pakistan’s defensive capabilities remain intact and resolute.
“By the grace of Allah and the steadfast resolve of our people, Pakistan once again defeated a deceitful and arrogant enemy,” Munir said, adding that India’s false accusations and fabricated evidence had exposed its political motives, while Pakistan’s professionalism earned it global respect.
He paid tribute to soldiers, officers, men, women, and citizens who sacrificed their lives for the motherland, praising the unity of the nation’s leadership, scholars, scientists, media, and especially the youth, for standing firm in the face of aggression.
Field Marshal Munir cautioned that “enemies seek to create divisions between the people and the armed forces,” but insisted that the bond between the two was unbreakable. “There is no duty more sacred than ensuring the safety of the Pakistani people, and no responsibility greater than the defence of our motherland,” he said.
He warned that any fresh wave of hostilities would be met with a response “far beyond the expectations of its initiators.” Pakistan’s weapon systems, he said, would erase misconceptions about India’s geographic advantage, and the resulting military and economic losses for those spreading instability would exceed all estimates.
In a pointed message to New Delhi, Munir declared that there was no space for war in a nuclear environment and urged the resolution of disputes under international norms, equality, and mutual respect. “Pakistan will not be intimidated by rhetoric,” he said. “We will respond decisively and proportionately to any provocation.”
I strongly warn India’s military leadership that there is no room for warfare in a nuclear environment. Disputes must be resolved within international norms, on the basis of equality and mutual respect. We will neither be intimidated by your words nor cowed into silence. In the… pic.twitter.com/Tbhgv2GN5Y
— The Thursday Times (@thursday_times) October 18, 2025
He added that any escalation would have devastating consequences across the region and beyond, for which “India alone would bear full responsibility.”
Turning to regional affairs, Field Marshal Munir said Pakistan had emerged as a responsible and stabilising power, strengthening relations with global and regional actors, particularly Muslim nations. He described the recent Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement with Saudi Arabia as a reaffirmation of the Pakistan–Saudi brotherhood and a major step toward ensuring peace and stability in the Middle East and South Asia.
“It is a moment of pride to renew our sacred commitment to the defence of the motherland, inspired by the vision of Allama Iqbal,” he said, adding that Pakistan had also played a constructive role in facilitating peaceful negotiations with Iran and deepening ties with other Muslim countries.
Munir concluded by reaffirming Pakistan’s pride in its “historic and all-weather strategic partnership” with the People’s Republic of China, which he described as a cornerstone for regional peace and development.
