COAS Munir
ISLAMABAD: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir has strongly criticized India, stating that its extremist “Hindutva ideology” poses a growing danger to minorities not only within India but also abroad, particularly in countries like the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada.
During his address at the Margalla Dialogue 2024, organized by the Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI), Gen Munir emphasized that India’s aggressive stance on minorities is deeply rooted in its Hindutva-driven policies.
He highlighted how India’s cruelty in Occupied Jammu and Kashmir is a direct continuation of this extremist ideology, manifesting through brutal policies and human rights violations. The army chief referred to India’s global network of extrajudicial killings, which has come under increasing scrutiny.
Recently, India has been accused of carrying out state-sponsored targeted assassinations in foreign countries, such as Canada and the US.
These accusations gained international attention following the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen and prominent advocate for Khalistan, a proposed Sikh homeland in northern India. Canada and the United States have openly linked Indian agents to this killing and other similar plots.
General Munir’s remarks align with findings from the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), which, in its 2024 annual report, condemned India for widespread human rights abuses.
The report noted that throughout 2024, India witnessed numerous cases of vigilante violence, lynching, and state-sanctioned persecution against religious minorities.
It also highlighted the use of misinformation and disinformation by Indian officials to incite violence, further isolating minorities and demolishing their homes and places of worship.
Earlier this year, Pakistan’s former foreign secretary, Syrus Qazi, revealed that Pakistan possessed credible evidence linking Indian agents to the killings of two Pakistani citizens on its soil.
He described these actions as part of a larger, sophisticated Indian campaign of extra-territorial and extra-judicial killings, designed to silence dissent and opposition beyond its borders.
Speaking at the Margalla Dialogue, General Munir not only condemned India’s extremist policies but also reaffirmed that a peaceful solution for Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) is inevitable.
He reiterated that this solution must come in accordance with United Nations resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people, who have long suffered under Indian oppression.
Turning to Pakistan’s efforts for regional and international peace, the COAS highlighted the country’s significant contributions to UN peacekeeping missions, where 235,000 Pakistanis have participated, and 181 soldiers have sacrificed their lives in the cause of world peace. General Munir expressed pride in Pakistan’s enduring role in promoting stability and peace, both regionally and globally.
Addressing broader global challenges, General Munir emphasized the growing threat posed by the rapid spread of false and misleading information. He warned that misinformation, particularly in the hands of violent non-state actors and state-sponsored terrorism, is becoming a major destabilizing force in the world.
He stressed that without comprehensive laws and regulations, misleading information will continue to erode political and social structures worldwide.
The army chief also criticized the misuse of freedom of speech, stating that unrestricted freedom was contributing to the degradation of moral values across societies. He called for greater regulation to address this challenge.
In addition to these concerns, General Munir touched on other pressing global issues, such as climate change, the ongoing fight against terrorism, and the need for better global health delivery. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to addressing these issues and emphasized that terrorism remains a common challenge for all humanity.
Finally, the COAS discussed the importance of border security and the steps Pakistan is taking to safeguard its western frontiers. He specifically addressed the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), describing it as part of the broader “Fitna al-Khawarij,” which has become a sanctuary for terrorist organizations and global proxies. General Munir urged the interim Afghan government to prevent its territory from being used for terrorist activities, reinforcing Pakistan’s commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms.
