Pakistan army chief vows ‘severe response’ to any Indian aggression

Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, has accused India of trying to destabilize the region and warned that any future aggression would be met with a “fitting response.”

Speaking to the Pakistani diaspora during his official visit to the United States on Sunday, Munir said India wanted to project itself as a “Vishwaguru” (world leader), but in reality “there is nothing of the sort.”

According to a statement issued by the military’s media wing, the ISPR, he accused India’s intelligence agency, RAW, of involvement in “transnational terrorist activities” that were a cause of global concern. “Examples include the killing of a Sikh leader in Canada, the case of eight Indian naval officers in Qatar, and incidents like that of Kulbhushan Jadhav,” he said.

Munir claimed Pakistan had fought a successful diplomatic battle against what he called India’s “discriminatory and duplicitous policies.” He said recent Indian military action – carried out on “shameful pretexts” – had violated Pakistan’s sovereignty and killed innocent civilians, bringing the region to the brink of a dangerous war.

Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, addressing the Pakistani diaspora during his official visit to the United States on Sunday.Courtesy: Pakistani community/social media

“This Indian aggression brought the region to the edge of a dangerously flammable conflict, where any miscalculation could have been a major mistake,” he said, adding that he was grateful to U.S. President Donald Trump, whose “strategic leadership” helped avert war.

He stressed that Pakistan had responded “resolutely” to India’s provocation while preventing a wider conflict. “Pakistan has made it clear that any Indian aggression will receive a fitting response,” he said.

Kashmir ‘unfinished agenda’

Munir rejected India’s claim that Jammu and Kashmir is an internal matter. “Occupied Kashmir is an unfinished international agenda. As Quaid-e-Azam said, Kashmir is Pakistan’s ‘jugular vein’,” he said, adding that Pakistan fully supports relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

Second U.S. trip in under two months

His visit to the U.S. is his second in less than two months, which he said symbolized a “new phase” in bilateral relations. He said the goal was to put the relationship on a constructive, sustainable, and positive path.

In Tampa, Munir attended the change-of-command ceremony at U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), where Adm. Brad Cooper succeeded Gen. Michael E. Kurilla. Munir praised Kurilla’s “exemplary leadership” and expressed confidence in continued cooperation under Cooper. He also met U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Dan Caine and invited him to visit Pakistan.

Munir’s trip follows a June meeting with Trump in which they discussed counterterrorism cooperation, trade, and what Trump described as a U.S.-brokered ceasefire between India and Pakistan – a claim New Delhi disputes.

Regional security and Gaza

Munir called the Gaza conflict “a genocide” and “one of the worst humanitarian tragedies” with serious global and regional consequences. He also warned that several militant groups operating from Afghanistan, including “Fitna al-Khawarij,” remain active against Pakistan.

It may be noted that Pakistan refers to Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) as “Fitna al-Khawarij”.

“Pakistan is the last line of defense against terrorism,” he said. “There is no sympathy for terrorists, and they will face justice with full force.”

Message to overseas Pakistanis

Munir described overseas Pakistanis as a “source of pride and dignity” and called them “brain gain, not brain drain.” He urged them to invest in Pakistan, saying the country’s prosperity is linked to their contributions. He noted that Pakistan’s 64% youth population holds “immense potential” for the future.

He cautioned against the misuse of social media by “anti-state elements” to create “manufactured chaos,” quoting a verse from the Quran urging verification of information before acting on it.

Munir said possible trade deals with the U.S. could bring major investment, while memorandums of understanding with the U.S., Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and China are already under way to boost economic cooperation.

“The question is not ‘if’ we will rise, but ‘how quickly and how strongly’ we will rise,” he said. “Let us stand with renewed purpose and move forward, keeping the legacy of our forefathers alive."