Asim Munir becomes most powerful man in Pakistan's history: What it means for India

Army chiefs in Pakistan have always been the most powerful figures in the country, right from the days of General Ayub Khan. But what happens when a country — whose democratic credentials have often been questioned by the world — grants its army chief even greater authority and sweeping immunity? It is indeed bad news: not just for India but Pakistan itself.

On Thursday, President Asif Ali Zardari approved the appointment of the army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, as Pakistan’s first Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) for a period of five years. The post, created under the 27th constitutional amendment, brings all three forces – Army, Air Force and Navy – under a unified command which will be headed by Munir.

Moreover, Munir will now also enjoy lifetime immunity from arrest and prosecution, making him almost invincible in the country.

A fundamental Islamist, described by his critics as a "jihadi general", Munir is far cry from his "moderate" predecessor Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa.

Since assuming power as the army chief, Munir has declared that Hindus and Muslims cannot co-exist, led an intense military escalation against India, wantonly issued nuclear threats, and hogged the global centerstage to effectively declare himself the final authority in Pakistan's foreign affairs.

His actions over the past few months have ratcheted up tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, increasing the risk of a conflict far more dangerous than the hostilities that followed Operation Sindoor.

But with Pakistan’s civilian government effectively crowning Munir as a de facto “king” and handing him sweeping powers on a platter, those risks are now far higher than before.

An article in India Today said that Munir's new status as CDF will concentrate Pakistan's military power and nuclear arsenal with one man, seriously raising risks for the region.

For India, it means a unified, all-powerful military officer holding unchecked power. Thus, any possible future conflict will allow Munir to swiftly mobilise Pakistan’s full military apparatus.

A Pakistani expert, who wished not to be named, had told India Today earlier that Munir wants to appeal to the hardline Pakistan which carries a fundamental hatred towards India. “There is a Jihadi Pakistan which is all about creating a Pakistani identity based on an irreconcilable antipathy towards India ... Munir is appealing to the Jihadi Pakistan, which is around 60 per cent of the population."

In his provocative April speech, which is now seen as a trigger for the Pahalgam attack, Munir had said that Kashmir is the "jugular vein" of Pakistan and pledged to fight for the "heroic struggle" of "our Kashmiri brothers".

With sweeping authority as CDF, Munir is only expected to advance his confrontational posture toward India through a combination of intensified proxy warfare and a more unified, overtly aggressive military strategy.