Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir has reportedly claimed that Pakistan experienced “divine intervention” during its military confrontation with India earlier this year, remarks that have resurfaced after a video of his speech went viral on social media.
In the undated clip, which Pakistani media reports say is from December 10, Munir is seen addressing the National Ulema Conference in Islamabad and invoking religious imagery while referring to the conflict that followed India’s launch of Operation Sindoor in May after the Pahalgam terror attack.
Speaking in Urdu, Munir cited a Quranic verse, “If Allah helps you, none can overcome you,” and suggested that Pakistan received unseen support during the hostilities.
“We felt it (divine help),” Munir said, according to clips aired on local television.
However, Moneycontrol could not independently verify the legitimacy of the video.
In his address, Munir drew heavily on religious themes, comparing modern-day Pakistan to the Islamic state established over 1,400 years ago. Referring to the Muslim world, he said there are 57 Islamic countries globally, but claimed Pakistan holds a special status.
“Among them, God gave us the honour of being the protectors of Haramain Sharifain,” he said, referring to Makkah and Madina.
Munir also addressed security concerns along Pakistan’s western border, urging Afghanistan’s Taliban government to choose between Pakistan and the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). He alleged that Afghan nationals constitute the majority of militants infiltrating Pakistan.
“In the TTP formations coming into Pakistan, 70 per cent are Afghans,” he said.
He further asserted that in an Islamic state, only the government has the authority to declare jihad. “No one can issue a fatwa for jihad without the order, permission, and will of those vested with authority,” Munir told the gathering.
While official details of the December 10 speech were not released, Munir’s remarks, particularly his claim of divine assistance during the India-Pakistan conflict, have drawn renewed attention amid ongoing tensions and debates over the role of religion in Pakistan’s military narrative.
Operation Sindoor
India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 in retaliation for the April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, which killed 26 people, mostly tourists. Under the operation, Indian armed forces carried out precision strikes on terror camps and launchpads in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
The targets included camps in Bahawalpur and Muridke in Pakistan’s Punjab province, as well as facilities in Muzaffarabad and Kotli in PoK. Indian officials said the strikes focused on recruitment centres, weapons training sites and infiltration hubs, describing the operation as a short-duration mission aimed at degrading terror infrastructure without triggering a wider conflict.
India has said the operation also damaged runways at multiple Pakistani air bases and neutralised air defence assets, significantly reducing Pakistan’s response capability. The operation lasted under 30 minutes.
The strikes were followed by four days of intense military exchanges between the two countries. Hostilities ended on May 10 after Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations contacted his Indian counterpart seeking a ceasefire.
India's ministers and senior military officials have repeatedly said that Operation Sindoor is an ongoing counter-terrorism framework and warned that it could be relaunched in response to any future provocation.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said last month, “Operation Sindoor took place just recently. Our forces destroyed Pakistan-based terrorist camps. Although we had given a highly balanced response, our response was not escalatory, but Pakistan's attitude did not allow the situation on the border to remain normal after Operation Sindoor.”
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