A new era of coordinated and consensual command change has begun. General Asim Munir has been appointed as Pakistan’s 17th Chief of Army Staff. For the first time in decades, his appointment has put an end to the unwritten tradition of superseding officers selecting a new army chief. The fact that he was the senior-most officer in line and was nominated for the highest office in the armed forces is a sign of maturity and fair play, and it will undoubtedly help to strengthen one of the finest and most professional national institutions.
General Qamar Javed Bajwa, the outgoing chief, gracefully handed over the baton to one of the most capable officers by signing off on his six-year tenure. The ex-army chief will be remembered for his Bajwa Doctrine and the fact that he served the country not only on the military front but also by pushing the envelope diplomatically in the geo-economics and counter-terrorism spheres. Nonetheless, General Munir has assumed command at a critical juncture. The region is in turmoil, and global politics have gone awry. The rise of China as a responsible power, as well as the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict, will keep him on the offensive.
The new commander-in-chief will deal with the perplexing realities of the United States and Southwest Asia, as well as Indian muscle-flexing, with the utmost dexterity and bravery. As the region reverts to non-state actors, as evidenced by fissures in Afghanistan and the collapse of talks with the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, General Munir will need to recast military priorities to ensure that national interests are protected and public disdain for Kabul is alleviated. General Munir will be expected to nip the terror in the bud and rewrite a new anti-terror protocol based on his vast experience as spy chief, both with the MI and the ISI cadres.
Last but not least, he will face a political turf challenge. Though the military has pledged to remain aloof and apolitical, the domestic dimensions of power politics will continue to knock. The army cannot keep its distance from making a point at a time when political instability is ripe and the economy is in shambles. Because the current nervousness and institutional chaos are directly related to national security, the new leadership will be under pressure to support either political camp. For a decorated officer like General Munir, the best way out will be to heed his advice on the best constitutional way out of the impasse.
