ISLAMABAD: In a landmark moment for Pakistan’s military history, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir was formally conferred with the Baton of Field Marshal during a dignified ceremony held at the President House in Islamabad.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif jointly awarded the ceremonial baton, officially elevating Munir to the highest military rank in the Pakistan Army — Field Marshal.
The ceremony, originally scheduled for Wednesday, was postponed at Munir’s request out of respect for the victims of the tragic Khuzdar school bus attack, which claimed several innocent lives, including children.
This promotion makes Munir only the second Field Marshal in the nation’s history. His elevation follows his widely praised leadership during Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, a decisive military campaign viewed as pivotal for national security.
The event was attended by a wide range of dignitaries, including the chief ministers of Punjab, Sindh, and Balochistan, federal ministers, services chiefs, and senior civil and military officials. Political leaders including Nawaz Sharif and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari were also present.
The Field Marshal rank in Pakistan is an honorary five-star designation (NATO OF-10), above a four-star General, and equivalent to Fleet Admiral in the Navy and Marshal of the Air Force. It is not part of regular promotions and is granted by joint consensus of the President, Prime Minister, and federal cabinet, typically to honor extraordinary service during times of national crisis.
Unlike the first Field Marshal, General Ayub Khan, whose 1959 promotion followed a military coup and was politically charged, Munir’s elevation is widely seen as a merit-based recognition of his strategic leadership and operational success.
The appointment, rooted in constitutional authority, does not extend political power but symbolizes the nation’s highest military honor for excellence in defense and leadership.
