Pak Army Chief Asim Munir Reportedly Detained by CJCSC?

In a dramatic shakeup in the Pakistan military, a rumour has been floating all over social media that Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) Chairman General Sahir Shamshad Mirza has apparently arrested Army Chief General Asim Munir. If true, the action is indicative of a serious power struggle among the senior leadership of Pakistan’s military. Munir has reportedly been taken to an unknown location, as Mirza is claimed to have taken charge.

Further exacerbating domestic tensions, a blast was reported some 20 kilometers from Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s residence. While details are meager, the incident has instilled fears about domestic stability.

India Shoots Down Pakistani Jets, 2 Pilots Arrested

In the meantime, tensions with India rose sharply on Thursday. Indian troops intercepted and neutralized a salvo of missiles and drones fired from Pakistan towards the Jammu region. The Indian air defence effectively repelled the attack, destroying all hostile aerial targets.

In a retaliatory strike, India shot down three Pakistani combat aircraft, an F-16 and two JF-17s. The backlash spread wider as Indian troops took two Pakistani pilots into custody alive. One was held in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, and the other in Akhnoor, a town situated in Jammu district of Jammu and Kashmir.

Asim Munir’s Career

General Asim Munir’s military career started on April 25, 1986. A decorated officer, he was given the coveted Sword of Honour upon his training at the Officers Training School (OTS) in Mangla. He led the XXX Corps in Gujranwala between June 2019 and October 2021 and previously served as the 28th Director-General of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) before Lieutenant General Faiz Hameed took over in June 2019.

Munir is famous for his very religious upbringing. He attained early Islamic schooling from Markazi Madrasah Dar-ul-Tajweed Rawalpindi and is normally referred to as a devout officer.

Education and Foreign Postings

His educational background consists of training at the Fuji School in Japan, the Command and Staff College in Quetta, and the Malaysian Armed Forces College in Kuala Lumpur. Munir also possesses an MPhil in Public Policy and Strategic Security Management from the National Defence University in Islamabad.

Internationally, Munir had the rank of lieutenant colonel in Riyadh on a defence cooperation agreement between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. He has also had experience in the challenging Siachen Glacier terrain.=