SOURCE: AFI
A growing rift is said to be emerging within the senior leadership of the Pakistan Army, with several powerful Corps Commanders reportedly at odds with Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir over recent developments related to cross-border operations in Kashmir and his increasingly hardline stance.
Sources familiar with the matter suggest that Lieutenant General Rahat Naseem Ahmed Khan (Commander XII Corps), Lieutenant General Syed Imdad Hussain Shah (XXX Corps), Lieutenant General Saqib Mehmood Malik (XXXI Corps), and Lieutenant General Muhammad Zafar Iqbal (Air Defence Corps) are among the senior commanders expressing strong reservations about Munir’s leadership direction.
The discontent reportedly intensified following allegations that General Munir had backed the targeted killing of Hindu militants in Kashmir, shortly after an anti-Hindu speech attributed to him began circulating online. While the authenticity of the speech remains disputed, its fallout appears to have strained civil-military relations and sparked unease within the armed forces.
Additional senior officers including Lieutenant General Nauman Zakaria (I Corps/Central Command), Lieutenant General Muhammad Avais Dastgir (V Corps), and Lieutenant General Fayyaz Hussain Shah (IV Corps) are also believed to have voiced concern. Their primary objections reportedly revolve around Pakistan’s preparedness for any escalation with India, especially at a time when the country is grappling with an upsurge in internal terrorism and a fragile economic landscape.
“There is a strong feeling within sections of the military that Pakistan is neither economically nor militarily positioned for another cycle of hostilities with India,” said a defence analyst based in Islamabad, requesting anonymity.
General Munir, who took over from General Qamar Javed Bajwa in late 2022, has faced criticism within military circles for being too impulsive and ideologically driven. His predecessor, General Bajwa, was seen as a more pragmatic leader who openly advocated for peaceful coexistence with India and emphasized internal stability.
The dissent, while not public, is significant as it involves multiple Corps Commanders—key figures who oversee operational commands across Pakistan. In the Pakistan Army’s hierarchy, unity among Corps leadership is vital for strategic coherence, and a breakdown in internal consensus can have serious implications.
Security analysts warn that any perceived fractures within the top brass may embolden extremist elements and further complicate Pakistan’s regional diplomacy, particularly at a time when global scrutiny over its policies in Kashmir and its handling of minority issues is intensifying.
As tensions simmer behind the scenes, Pakistan’s internal security situation continues to deteriorate. With frequent terror attacks targeting security forces in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, coupled with a prolonged economic crisis, many within the army believe the priority should be domestic stabilization—not escalation with India.
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