'We’ll start from East': Asim Munir's aide issues fresh threat to India, outlines Pak army chief's risky approach

File: Pakistan army chief Asim Munir (L) with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif (AFP)

A Pakistani military spokesperson has laid bare the dangerous intentions of army chief Asim Munir, suggesting that the Field Marshal wants to strike deeper within India in case of future military escalations between the nuclear-armed neighbours.

Speaking to The Economist, General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said that Munir wants to "bring India to the negotiating table" — reiterating the Pakistan government's long-standing concern as New Delhi continues to refuse bilateral engagement unless Islamabad addresses the issue of terrorism.

When asked about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's warning that any future terror attacks will invite prompt military action from India — similar to Operation Sindoor — Chaudhry said Pakistan will now strike India "from the east".

"We’ll start from the east. They also need to understand that they can be hit everywhere," the Pakistani military spokesperson told The Economist, without going into any specific details.

The spokesperson said that Munir's views on India were made amply clear during his speech on April 16, just days before the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu & Kashmir.

In his incendiary speech, which is now being seen as a direct trigger for the Pahalgam attack, Munir said that Hindus and Muslims are fundamentally different from each other. He also described Kashmir as the "jugular vein of Pakistan", vowing to stand by the "struggles" of the people from the region.

Chaudhry told The Economist that in his speech, Munir was articulating “what he stands for, what he is ready to die for” — partly as a response to the alleged rise of Hindu nationalism in India.

The report also said that Munir's risk appetite appears to be far greater than that of his predecessor, General Qamar Javed Bajwa. It said that while Bajwa was in favour of quiet diplomacy with India, Munir has taken a more aggressive approach.

The report even claimed that Munir resisted international pressure by responding to India's air strikes during Operation Sindoor.

The comments by the Pakistani military spokesperson confirms Munir's anti-India agenda, which has been flagged by India repeatedly during the diplomatic outreach on Operation Sindoor.

PM Modi warned Pakistan that any future terror attack on Indian soil will now be treated as an act of war, with forces giving an appropriate response to the neighbour. The remarks signalled a bold shift in India's decisive approach towards Pakistan-sponsored terrorism.

'Asim law' in Pakistan

The report also mentioned Munir's soaring popularity in Pakistan.

The military-backed government now commands a two-thirds parliamentary majority, enabling potential constitutional changes. Speculation is rife that the Field Marshal may even seek the presidency, even though Chaudhry has denied the claims as “nonsense”.

Yet Munir’s grip on power is undeniable. Promoted to Field Marshal in May — a rare honour last conferred to a military ruler — he now presides over what critics call “Asim law”, a veiled reference to military dominance without formal martial law. Former Prime Minister Imran Khan, jailed and barred from contesting elections, said from prison on July 24 that Pakistan was under “Asim law”.

Munir’s ideological leanings also set him apart from his predecessors. The son of an imam, educated at a madrasa, and able to recite the Quran by heart, he is the first army chief not trained in the West. Yet his spokesperson claims he is “well versed” in global affairs and strongly opposed to jihadist groups operating on Pakistani soil.

Now, with American interest rekindled (lunch with Trump, oil deal with US) and his domestic position strong, Munir is attempting to recalibrate ties with the US. It also insists that its outreach to America won’t harm its strategic partnership with China — but Beijing may see things differently, according to the report.

However, for now, Munir’s focus appears fixed on India, with his spokesperson warning that the battlefield could extend far beyond Kashmir.