The military confrontation between India and Pakistan came
as tensions over last month’s Pahalgam attack continued to build up.
On the night of May 6-7, New Delhi launched a series of air strikes
in Punjab and Azad Kashmir, resulting in civilian casualties. Islamabad
responded by downing five Indian jets.
After intercepting drones sent by India and tit-for-tat
strikes on each other’s airbases, it took American intervention on May 10,
when tensions between the two countries peaked, for both sides to finally drop
their guns as a ceasefire was reached.
India has since continued its aggressive posturing even as
Pakistan has warned against any further military aggression and offered
talks. Officials from both countries confirmed that the ceasefire does not have
an expiry date, putting to rest the speculations that the truce would lapse
this weekend unless renewed.
The rank of Field Marshal is the highest rank of
armies built on the pattern of the British Army. General Mohammad Ayub Khan was
conferred the rank by the presidential cabinet.
“The Government of Pakistan has approved the promotion of
General Syed Asim Munir (Nishan-i-Imtiaz Military) to the rank of Field Marshal
for ensuring the security of the country and defeating the enemy based on the
high strategy and courageous leadership during Marka-i-Haq and Operation
Bunyanum Marsoos,” the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said in a statement after
a federal cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Retelling the events of the military conflict with India,
the statement further said that COAS Munir led the army “with exemplary courage
and determination and coordinated the war strategy and efforts of the armed
forces in a comprehensive manner”.
