BRUSSELS: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir has categorically dismissed speculation about a leadership change, calling such rumors “baseless and malicious.”
Addressing an event in Brussels, the Army Chief said that those spreading such claims were adversaries of both the government and state institutions. “God has made me the protector of this country. Beyond this responsibility, I have no desire for any other position,” he asserted.
On foreign policy, COAS Asim Munir underlined Pakistan’s long-standing ability to balance ties between China and the United States. “We will not sacrifice one friend for another,” he remarked. He also praised former US President Donald Trump’s pursuit of peace, noting that Pakistan was the first country to nominate him for the Nobel Peace Prize, a step later supported by other nations.
Turning to regional security, the Army Chief warned India against using proxies to destabilize Pakistan and urged Kabul to halt the movement of Taliban fighters across the border. “It is our duty to avenge the blood of every Pakistani,” he stated firmly.
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During his visit, overseas Pakistanis in Brussels gave COAS Asim Munir a rousing reception, hailing him as a “victor of war.” Defying security protocols, he stood for hours to personally greet expatriates who had traveled long distances to see him. “How can I break the hearts of those who came from afar?” he said, insisting on meeting every attendee.
The Army Chief also praised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his cabinet, lauding their “18-hour workdays” during wartime and calling their commitment “truly commendable.”