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Journalism of Courage
Asim Munir Field Marshal promotion: The Government of Pakistan has announced that the Chief of Army Staff of Pakistan Army, General Asim Munir, is being promoted to the rank of Field Marshal. This makes him the second Field Marshal of the Pakistan Army in its history after Field Marshal Ayub Khan.
Mohammad Ayub Khan, who was the president of Pakistan from 1958 to 1969, was the first Field Marshal of Pakistan Army. However, it is worth noting that Ayub Khan essentially promoted himself to the highest military rank in the Army after having carried out a coup and installing himself as the President of the country in 1958. The next year in 1959, nearing his age of retirement from the Army, Ayub Khan awarded himself the rank of Field Marshal, citing ‘persistent requests’ from members of the Pakistani civil society. A proclamation promoting him was issued by the Presidential cabinet in October 1959.
Did Ayub Khan serve as Pakistan Army Chief after becoming Field Marshal?
No, Ayub Khan had appointed General Musa Khan as Commander-in-Chief of Pakistan Army after he became the President. He was not in active command of the Army thereafter and concentrated on running the country.
How different is Asim Munir’s elevation to Field Marshal from Ayub Khan’s?
The essential difference is that while Ayub promoted himself, Asim Munir has been promoted by the civilian government of Pakistan headed by a Prime Minister. Another major difference is that while Ayub did not command the Pakistan Army as a Field Marshal, Asim Munir will remain the Chief of Army Staff of Pakistan Army till his scheduled date of retirement.
He would have retired from Army in 2025 but for a legislation passed by the National Assembly of Pakistan in November 2024, which extended the tenure of the Army, Navy and Air Chiefs to five years from three years. He is now due to retire in 2027.
General Asim Munir was commissioned in the Frontier Force Regiment in April 1986, after graduating from the Officers Training School (OTS) in Mangla (Punjab) which has now been shut down. He received the Sword of Honour at the passing out parade.
He has attended career courses at the Fuji School in Japan, Command and Staff College in Quetta, Malaysian Armed Forces Defence College in Kuala Lumpur, and the National Defence University (NDU) in Islamabad. He is said to have studied Islamic studies while posted in Saudi Arabia and memorised the Quran.
He has commanded the 23rd Battalion of the Frontier Force Regiment as a Lt Colonel and commanded an infantry brigade in the Northern Areas as a Brigadier. As a Major General he served as Force Commander Northern Areas and later as Director General Military Intelligence.
On promotion as Lt General he served as DG ISI and was on that post when the Pulwama terror attack took place in 2019. He subsequently served as GOC of 30 Corps in Gujranwala. Prior to his elevation as Chief of Army Staff in November 2022 he was serving as Quartermaster General in Pakistan GHQ in Rawalpindi.
Are there any special perks of office which come with the rank of Field Marshal?
The Indian and Pakistani armies follow the British pattern of ranks and privileges and under these, a Field Marshal is considered to be on ‘active list’ till his death. He does not hold any office in official capacity beyond his date of retirement but he is entitled to wear his uniform at any event he deems fit. A Field Marshal wears special badges of rank, has five stars displayed on his vehicle and as per tradition, salutes with the special Field Marshal’s baton raised to the forehead and not the hand, as is the norm in a military salute.
India has had two Field Marshals, Sam Manekshaw and KM Cariappa.
What was the military background of Ayub Khan?
Ayub Khan studied at the Aligarh Muslim University in Uttar Pradesh, India, and joined the Royal Military College at Sandhurst, UK, passing out as commissioned officer in Indian Army in 1928. He served in the Punjab Regiment for most of his career till the rank of Lt Colonel but for a short stint in Assam Regiment.
Serving as the second-in-command of his battalion as a senior Major, he was appointed as the Commanding Officer of 1st Battalion of the Assam Regiment in WW2 when his CO was killed in battle. He was removed from command shortly afterwards as his General Officer Commanding found him to be timid in command.
After partition, he eventually rose to the rank of General and took over as Commander-in-Chief of Pakistan Army in 1959 and held that post till 1958 when he became the President.
