Pakistan’s military leadership gathered for the 71st Corps Commanders’ Conference in Rawalpindi, aiming to project unity and resolve. On paper, they did. But look closer and the story feels stuck. Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir claimed India was “carrying out numerous terrorist activities inside Pakistan”, according to an ISPR statement after the meet.
He didn’t stop there. Munir said India used “nefarious activities through proxies”, singling out Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) as “Fitna al-Khawarij” and Baloch fighters as “Fitna al-Hindustan”.
India rejects all these claims. TTP is a Pakistani offshoot of the Afghan Taliban. Baloch groups have long fought Pakistan’s military over local grievances. But blaming India helps deflect hard questions at home.
Blood, blame and silence on Op Sindoor
As usual, the Army promised revenge. The ISPR said, “The forum resolved that the blood of our Shuhada will not go to waste and the safety and security of people of Pakistan remain top-most priority for the Armed Forces of Pakistan.”
Yet even as this statement went public, local media reported that nine passengers were abducted and killed by Baloch militants travelling between Zhob and Loralai. Pakistan’s reaction? Blame India. Evidence? None.
What Munir’s team didn’t mention was Operation Sindoor. On 7 May, India launched precision strikes on terror camps and military posts in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. This was retaliation for the brutal Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26. After days of tension, both sides agreed to a ceasefire when Pakistan’s DGMO reached out to India’s military.
Diplomatic spin, familiar faces
Instead of acknowledging these military embarrassments, Munir chose to highlight Pakistan’s foreign trips. “[The] forum was also briefed on the historic and unique visit of the COAS to the US, where meetings with top-tier leadership afforded an opportunity to share, first hand, Pakistan’s objective perspective on bilateral, regional and extra-regional developments,” read the ISPR note.
He also flagged recent tours with PM Shehbaz Sharif to Iran, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Saudi Arabia and the UAE as “proactive and successful diplomatic manoeuvre”.
But here’s the thing. Iran and Turkey have always backed Pakistan. Saudi Arabia and the UAE have good ties with India and rarely take sides on India’s internal matters. And the US remains sceptical of Pakistan’s record on harbouring terror groups. In short, photo-ops don’t fix old trust gaps.
Kashmir card, again
Munir couldn’t resist the Kashmir pitch either. Addressing cadets at the Pakistan Naval Academy, he declared, “What India tends to term as terrorism is in fact the legitimate struggle as per the international conventions.” He went further: “Those who endeavoured to subdue the will of Kashmiri people and sought conflict elimination instead of resolution have made it more relevant and pronounced through their own actions.”
He added, “We stand firm with the Kashmiri people for their right of self-determination for the resolution of the internationally recognised long-standing dispute in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions and the aspirations of the people of Kashmir.” According to the Hindustan Times, Munir promised, “Pakistan will always continue to provide political, diplomatic, and moral support to the valiant people of... Jammu and Kashmir.”
Provocations and ‘restraint’
Munir also told the passing out parade that India had “twice undertaken acts of unprovoked aggression against Pakistan”, accusing Delhi of using the “pretext of counter terrorism”. He praised his own force’s maturity, saying, “Pakistan, despite grave provocations, acted with restraint and maturity and demonstrated its commitment to regional peace and stability…” and warned, “The assumption that Pakistan would have any constraints in the face of any future violation of its sovereignty reflects a dangerous misreading of strategic fundamentals…”
A month ago, Munir called Kashmir Pakistan’s “jugular vein” at an Overseas Pakistanis Convention in Islamabad. He stuck to the same script this time too.
What this really means is simple. The Pakistan Army’s top brass remains more comfortable pointing fingers across the border than facing uncomfortable truths at home. Each new terror strike inside its own territory is pinned on India. Each military embarrassment is brushed under the carpet. And the real cost? Ordinary Pakistanis caught between failing security and a tired blame game.
He didn’t stop there. Munir said India used “nefarious activities through proxies”, singling out Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) as “Fitna al-Khawarij” and Baloch fighters as “Fitna al-Hindustan”.
India rejects all these claims. TTP is a Pakistani offshoot of the Afghan Taliban. Baloch groups have long fought Pakistan’s military over local grievances. But blaming India helps deflect hard questions at home.
Blood, blame and silence on Op Sindoor
As usual, the Army promised revenge. The ISPR said, “The forum resolved that the blood of our Shuhada will not go to waste and the safety and security of people of Pakistan remain top-most priority for the Armed Forces of Pakistan.”
Yet even as this statement went public, local media reported that nine passengers were abducted and killed by Baloch militants travelling between Zhob and Loralai. Pakistan’s reaction? Blame India. Evidence? None.
What Munir’s team didn’t mention was Operation Sindoor. On 7 May, India launched precision strikes on terror camps and military posts in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. This was retaliation for the brutal Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26. After days of tension, both sides agreed to a ceasefire when Pakistan’s DGMO reached out to India’s military.
Diplomatic spin, familiar faces
Instead of acknowledging these military embarrassments, Munir chose to highlight Pakistan’s foreign trips. “[The] forum was also briefed on the historic and unique visit of the COAS to the US, where meetings with top-tier leadership afforded an opportunity to share, first hand, Pakistan’s objective perspective on bilateral, regional and extra-regional developments,” read the ISPR note.
He also flagged recent tours with PM Shehbaz Sharif to Iran, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Saudi Arabia and the UAE as “proactive and successful diplomatic manoeuvre”.
But here’s the thing. Iran and Turkey have always backed Pakistan. Saudi Arabia and the UAE have good ties with India and rarely take sides on India’s internal matters. And the US remains sceptical of Pakistan’s record on harbouring terror groups. In short, photo-ops don’t fix old trust gaps.
Kashmir card, again
Munir couldn’t resist the Kashmir pitch either. Addressing cadets at the Pakistan Naval Academy, he declared, “What India tends to term as terrorism is in fact the legitimate struggle as per the international conventions.” He went further: “Those who endeavoured to subdue the will of Kashmiri people and sought conflict elimination instead of resolution have made it more relevant and pronounced through their own actions.”
He added, “We stand firm with the Kashmiri people for their right of self-determination for the resolution of the internationally recognised long-standing dispute in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions and the aspirations of the people of Kashmir.” According to the Hindustan Times, Munir promised, “Pakistan will always continue to provide political, diplomatic, and moral support to the valiant people of... Jammu and Kashmir.”
Provocations and ‘restraint’
Munir also told the passing out parade that India had “twice undertaken acts of unprovoked aggression against Pakistan”, accusing Delhi of using the “pretext of counter terrorism”. He praised his own force’s maturity, saying, “Pakistan, despite grave provocations, acted with restraint and maturity and demonstrated its commitment to regional peace and stability…” and warned, “The assumption that Pakistan would have any constraints in the face of any future violation of its sovereignty reflects a dangerous misreading of strategic fundamentals…”
A month ago, Munir called Kashmir Pakistan’s “jugular vein” at an Overseas Pakistanis Convention in Islamabad. He stuck to the same script this time too.
What this really means is simple. The Pakistan Army’s top brass remains more comfortable pointing fingers across the border than facing uncomfortable truths at home. Each new terror strike inside its own territory is pinned on India. Each military embarrassment is brushed under the carpet. And the real cost? Ordinary Pakistanis caught between failing security and a tired blame game.
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