Pakistan's Islamic NATO mirage: Why Asim Munir's fantasy to lead the Ummah cannot take flight

This handout photograph taken on May 14, 2025, and released by Pakistan's Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) shows Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif (front, R) along with the country's Army Chief General Syed Asim Munir (front, L) arriving to visit Pasrur Cantonment in Sialkot, Punjab province.

Pakistan is once again trying to rally the Muslim world behind its banner, positioning itself as the self-appointed leader of the global Islamic community. In speeches and summits, Islamabad trumpets its status as the “only Islamic nuclear power” while presenting itself as the defender of Muslim causes.

Field Marshal Asim Munir, the country’s de facto ruler, has cast himself as a champion of the Ummah, floating ideas of an “Islamic NATO” to project power abroad and to shore up support at home. But behind the grandstanding lies a bankrupt economy, waning credibility and a military desperate for relevance.

A bid to lead the Ummah

Since taking charge as Army Chief, Field Marshal Munir has woven a narrative of Pakistan as the natural leader of Muslim nations. This self-portrayal relies almost entirely on its nuclear arsenal and a long-running claim of being an indispensable Islamic state. The latest example is a defence pact with Saudi Arabia reportedly allowing Pakistan’s nuclear umbrella to cover Riyadh. At recent summits, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif echoed Munir’s pitch for a pan-Islamic military bloc that would resemble NATO.

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Survival disguised as leadership

The reality is far less impressive. Pakistan is economically crippled. Its foreign reserves are almost gone, it survives on IMF bailouts and loans from China, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Inflation has gutted the middle class and industrial growth has stagnated. Islamabad’s nuclear status is one of the few assets left to sell. By projecting itself as the “guardian” of the Muslim world, Pakistan is trying to convert symbolic leadership into cash and political backing from wealthy Gulf monarchies.

The Munir playbook

Munir has adopted overtly religious messaging reminiscent of General Zia-ul-Haq’s Islamisation of Pakistan’s military. By turning Sharif into a supporting actor at global events, he has consolidated personal control. His five-star rank and his eagerness to posture as defender of Muslim causes serve a dual purpose: bolstering his stature at home while seeking legitimacy abroad. But Pakistan’s record of exporting militants and nurturing extremist groups undermines its credibility among the very nations it seeks to lead.

Targeting India under a religious banner

The “Islamic NATO” rhetoric also carries a familiar undertone: countering India. After heavy losses in Operation Sindoor despite support from China and Turkey, Islamabad has doubled down on portraying India as a threat to the entire Islamic world. This is ironic given Pakistan’s own long history of cross-border terrorism and its role in destabilising the region.

Why Pakistan’s plan is unlikely to succeed

The Muslim world is deeply divided. Saudi Arabia competes with Iran for regional dominance. Turkey has its own ambitions that clash with Gulf monarchies. These rivalries make any cohesive Islamic military bloc virtually impossible. An impoverished, politically unstable Pakistan is the least likely candidate to bridge those divides. Possessing nuclear weapons does not erase its internal crises or its tarnished global image. There is also widespread international fear that Pakistan’s weapons could one day slip into terrorist hands, further eroding trust.

Rhetoric without substance

Pakistan’s “Islamic NATO” push is less about unity and more about survival. It is a transactional play for loans and legitimacy disguised as religious solidarity. The country’s nuclear status and Islamic identity are the only cards it has left to play. Yet illusions have limits. In the end, a country running on empty cannot lead a powerful bloc of nations that are themselves fractured by competing interests.