Asim Munir: The Quran-Memorizing General Who Rose to the Top of Pakistan’s Army

ALDAR/

Asim Munir was born on June 6, 1966, in Rawalpindi, Punjab Province, into a distinguished family whose roots trace back to India before settling in Pakistan following the partition of the Indian subcontinent in 1947. He grew up in a conservative environment—his father was an imam and director of a Quran memorization school, where Munir had the opportunity to memorize the entire Quran at an early age.

From a young age, Munir showed both military and athletic inclinations, particularly excelling in cricket. In 1986, he joined the Pakistan Military Academy, where he stood out among his peers and was awarded the prestigious “Sword of Honour,” the highest recognition for outstanding cadets. His academic and military training spanned institutions in Pakistan and abroad, including Japan and Malaysia. He capped his academic journey with a master’s degree in public policy and strategic security management from the National Defence University in Islamabad.

Munir began his professional military career with a posting in Saudi Arabia, where he completed the memorization of the Quran at the age of 38. Over time, he rose steadily through the military ranks—from commanding a corps in Mangla to heading military intelligence, and later, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Pakistan’s premier intelligence agency.

Although he was removed from his position as ISI director by then-Prime Minister Imran Khan after a brief tenure, Munir quickly returned to key leadership roles. He was later appointed commander of the 30th Corps and then Director General of Logistics and Supply at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi.

On November 24, 2022, the government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif appointed Asim Munir as the new Chief of Army Staff, succeeding General Qamar Javed Bajwa, making him the 17th commander of Pakistan’s most powerful institution. Though he preferred to remain out of the spotlight, recent events in Kashmir pushed him into the public eye. During a fiery speech delivered atop a tank, Munir issued a stern warning to India, affirming that Pakistan would respond swiftly and decisively to any military misadventure, and vowed continued support for the Kashmiri struggle against Indian occupation.

General Munir is widely known for his deep religious devotion and strict adherence to Islamic teachings, prompting some Indian media outlets to label him the “Mullah General” out of concern over his religious background. Nevertheless, he remains firmly aligned with the vision of Pakistan’s founders, particularly the “Two-Nation Theory,” which underlines the distinct identities of Muslims and Hindus and the necessity of two separate homelands.

Throughout his decorated military career, Munir has received numerous awards in recognition of his service, including the Hilal-i-Imtiaz (Crescent of Excellence), Nishan-i-Imtiaz (Order of Excellence), and several medals commemorating Pakistan’s independence and public service. Today, Asim Munir is regarded as one of the most prominent generals in modern Pakistani history, standing out for his unique combination of military discipline and religious grounding.