'I totally believe Asim Munir is behind this': Army veteran blames Pak Army chief for Pahalgam terror attack

Lt Gen DP Pandey (Screen grab: ANI)

Retired Indian Army officer Lieutenant General Devendra Pratap Pandey has directly accused Pakistan’s Army Chief, General Asim Munir, of being behind the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.

Lt Gen Pandey told ANI, “I totally believe that Asim Munir is behind this,” while highlighting the Pakistani military and intelligence establishment as the primary drivers of terrorism in the region.

He elaborated on the structure of terror operations, stating, “There are three layers. One layer involves the militant camps and infrastructure, but the top individuals—the leaders of the system—Asim Munir and ISIS, are the originators, controllers, and monitors of this infrastructure. These are the individuals who hold the levers of power.”

Lt Gen Pandey emphasized that Pakistan’s military leadership is at the forefront of what he described as a “military-jihadi complex,” which orchestrates and oversees terror activities across the border.

When asked about possible military responses to the attack, Lt Gen Pandey acknowledged the calls for “Uri-style” surgical strikes on militant camps, but stressed that the real issue is the leadership enabling these camps. He stated, “Militant camps can be moved. The key question is—who controls this infrastructure? It’s the Pakistani Army leadership and the establishment. I totally believe Asim Munir is behind this,” he reiterated.

General Asim Munir’s recent speech is believed to have acted as a catalyst for the terror attack in Pahalgam, which coincided with the visit of US Vice President JD Vance.

In his address to a gathering of Pakistanis abroad, Asim Munir articulated his country’s stance on Kashmir, referring to it as the "jugular vein of Pakistan." He emphasized that Pakistan will not forget this issue and expressed solidarity with the region's "struggle."

The Pakistani Army Chief also addressed the two-nation theory, asserting that India and Pakistan are fundamentally different nations. He stated, “Our forefathers believed we are distinct from Hindus in every possible aspect of life. Our religions, customs, traditions, thoughts, and ambitions are all different. That was the foundation of the two-nation theory.”

Sources, quoting intelligence officers, suggested that Munir's speech, which highlighted the differences between Hindus and Muslims, may have inspired The Resistance Front (TRF) to carry out the attack, marking it as one of the deadliest in the Valley in recent years. The TRF has claimed responsibility for the strike.