Syed Asim Munir Ahmed Shah HI(M) (Urdu: سَیِد عاصم منیر احمد) is a Pakistani army general, the current Chief of Army Staff since 29 November 2022.[2] Prior to becoming army chief he was posted at the GHQ as Quartermaster general.[3] He commanded the XXX Corps in Gujranwala from 17 June 2019 to 6 October 2021.[4] He served as the 23rd Director-General of the ISI until he was replaced with Lt. Gen. Faiz Hameed on 16 June 2019.[5] Asim Munir was the recipient of the prestigious Sword of Honour for his excellent performance as a cadet in the Officers Training School, Mangla.[6]
Syed Asim Munir Ahmad Shah | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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سَیِد عاصم منیر احمد شاہ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
.jpg) Official military portrait, 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 11th Chief of the Army Staff | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chief of Army Staff | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 3 years; renewable once. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 29 November 2022 – 29 November 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nominated by | Prime Minister of Pakistan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Appointed by | President of Pakistan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| President | Arif Alvi | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Qamar Javed Bajwa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | Dheri Hassanabad, Rawalpindi, Pakistan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse | Syeda Irum Asim | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Children | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Parent |
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| Education | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alma mater | Command and Staff College Quetta National Defense University Islamabad | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Military service | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Allegiance |  Pakistan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Branch/service |  Pakistan Army | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years of service | 1986—Present | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank |   General | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unit | 23 Frontier Force Regiment | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Commands | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Battles/wars | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Awards |  Nishan-e-Imtiaz Hilal-i-Imtiaz Sword of Honour (Pakistan) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Early life and education
Asim Munir was born into a middle class Punjabi Muslim family, their roots lying in Jalandhar, now in Indian Punjab, from where his parents migrated.[7] They moved to Toba Tek Singh before settling down in Rawalpindi's Dheri Hassanabad, where they have been established for decades now. His late father, Syed Sarwar Munir, was the principal of the FG Technical High School, Rawalpindi and Imam of a Mosque, Masjid-al-Quraish, situated in a locality of Dheri Hassanabad, where he often delivered the Friday Khutbah sermon.[8] Munir has two siblings, Syed Qasim Munir and Syed Hashim Munir, who are also Hafiz-e-Quran. One of his brother is a government school teacher.
His family is locally known for being scholarly and religious. Both he and his father memorized the entire Qur'an, earning both the title of Hafiz-e-Quran. Asim Munir accomplished this feat while attending the Madrassah Darul Tajweedul Quran in Rawalpindi, making him only army chief in the history of Pakistan to hold the title. He was also a student of Islamic preacher Hafiz Khalil Ahmed.[9]
Asim Munir is a fitness enthusiast. He likes running, physical workout and sports. He is a keen book reader and traveller. Munir is fluent in Arabic, Urdu, Punjabi and English.[10]
Asim Munir graduated from the Fuji school, Japan, the Command and Staff College, Quetta, the Malaysian Armed Forces College, Kuala Lumpur and the National Defence University, Islamabad, where he earned his MPhil in Public Policy and Strategic Security Management.[6]
Military career
Asim Munir is from the 17th course of the Officers Training School in Mangla. He was commissioned in the 23rd Battalion of the Frontier Force Regiment. He started his military career in 25 April 1986.
As a Lieutenant Colonel, Asim Munir has served in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) as part of close defence cooperation between Riyadh and Islamabad.[11] He has served at Siachin Glacier as well. Brigadier Asim Munir, earlier was serving as the Chief of Staff of Pakistan's I Strike Corps Mangla. He was promoted as a Major-general in 2014 served as the commander of the Troops deployed in the Northern Areas of Pakistan in 2014 as Force Commander North Areas (FCNA). Munir has also served as Director-General of Military Intelligence in 2016.[12] He was awarded the Hilal-i-Imtiaz in March 2018.[13] Asim Munir was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General in September 2018 and was subsequently appointed as DG ISI. In June 2019, Munir was replaced by Lt. Gen. Faiz Hameed as the new DG ISI. Subsequently, Munir was appointed as Corps Commander of XXX Corps in Gujranwala in 2019.[14]From 2021 to November 2022, Lt-General Asim was posted at GHQ as Quartermaster General of Pakistan Army. In November 2022, Lt General Munir was promoted to the four-star General rank and was appointed as the Chief of the Army Staff of Pakistan Army. At the time of his appointment as COAS, Asim Munir was the senior most Lt.General of the Pakistan Army. In December 2022, General Asim Munir received the Nishan-i-Imtiaz (Military) award from President Arif Alvi. At the Aiwan-e-Sadr, the top military officials were given special investitures in front of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, diplomats, lawmakers, and federal ministers were present during the ceremony.[15]
General Asim Munir is the only recipient of Sword of Honour who has risen to the position of army chief in the military history of Pakistan. Besides, he is the only army chief in the history of Pakistan who has earlier served as chief of both premier military intelligence agencies of Pakistan, namely, Inter-Services Intelligence and Military Intelligence.[6]
General Asim Munir is the first Quartermaster General of Pakistan Army who has been elevated to the post of army chief. General Munir is also first army chief who is not from PMA but OTS, Mangla.
On his appointment as COAS the Al-Jazeera described Asim Munir as an officer with an “impeccable reputation”.While The Times of India declares him as a "tough guy" for his hawkish attitude.[16][17]
Controversies and Allegations
Asim Munir has been accused by Imran Khan for being fixated on sidelining him for whatever reason causing an active crisis in Pakistan. Khan further stated that perhaps the current Chief of the Army Staff Asim Munir holds a grudge against him for being asked to resign from his role at the ISI during PTI's government. [18]
Asim Munir has caused grave concern among human rights organizations for trying civilians of the May 9th protests under the Army Act of 1952 via military courts. One key point of such trials is that no written judgment is provided at the end of the trial, and convictions and sentencing are verbally communicated to the accused. The decision by the Army under Asim Munir to try civilians under the Army Act violates Pakistan's constitution and international obligations. [19]
In a recent development Imran Khan's nephew Hassan Niazi has been handed over to the military for trial. [20]
Furthermore Zalmay Khalilzad has condemned Asim Munir for threatening the wives and children of his critics due to the handling of the May 9th riots. [21]
Dates of promotion
| Insignia | Rank | Date |
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General, COAS | November 2022[2] |
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Lieutenant General | September 2018[22] |
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Major General | October 2014 |
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Brigadier | |
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Colonel | |
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Lieutenant Colonel | |
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Major | |
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Captain | |
_Pakistan_Army.svg){kind=small} |
Lieutenant | |
_Pakistan_Army.svg){kind=small} |
Second Lieutenant | April 1986 |
Awards and decorations
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| Nishan-e-Imtiaz
(2022) |
Hilal-e-Imtiaz
(Crescent of Excellence) (2018) |
Tamgha-e-Diffa
(General Service Medal) Siachen Glacier Clasp | ||
| Tamgha-e-Baqa
1998 |
Tamgha-e-Istaqlal Pakistan
2002 |
Tamgha-e-Azm
(Medal of Conviction) (2018) |
10 Years Service Medal | |
| 20 Years Service Medal | 30 Years Service Medal | 35 Years Service Medal | Jamhuriat Tamgha
(Democracy Medal) 1988 | |
| Qarardad-e-Pakistan Tamgha
(Resolution Day Golden Jubilee Medal) 1990 |
Tamgha-e-Salgirah Pakistan
(Independence Day Golden Jubilee Medal) 1997 |
Command & Staff College Quetta
Instructor's Medal |
Sword of Honor(OTS)
1986 | |
Foreign decorations
 Turkey
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Turkish Legion of Merit |
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References
- ^ "COAS pick: Lt Gen Asim Munir — a brief profile". The News International. 24 November 2022. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
- ^ a b "Lt General Asim Munir set to become next army chief, govt announces". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
- ^ "Who will be the next army chief?". 16 August 2022.
- ^ "Inter Services Public Relations Pakistan". www.ispr.gov.pk. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
- ^ Reshuffle in army top brass 17 June 2019, The Nation.
- ^ a b c "A brief look at General Asim Munir's career". Geo News. 29 November 2022.
- ^ Banerji, Rana (30 November 2022). "Gen Asim Munir unlikely to be busy on India front for now as Imran Khan, hostile Durand Line pose new challenges". Firstpost.
His parents migrated from Jalandhar, east Punjab […] he would be the eighth Punjabi Army Chief […]
- ^ "From Jalandhar (India) to Rawalpindi: family profile of new Army Chief General Asim Munir".
- ^ "Where did Gen Asim Munir memorise the Holy Quran?". Daily Pakistan. 25 November 2022.
- ^ Hussain, Abid. "Who is Asim Munir, Pakistan's new army chief?". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
- ^ "Who is Lt Gen Asim Munir?". Dunya News. 24 November 2022. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
- ^ Service, Indo-Asian News (25 November 2022). "Gen Asim Munir is first Pak Army chief to have headed both ISI, MI". The Siasat Daily. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
- ^ "President confers 58 military, 73 civil awards". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
- ^ "Faiz made ISI chief in military shake-up". 17 June 2019.
- ^ "President Alvi confers Nishan-i-Imtiaz (military) on COAS, CJCSC". The Express Tribune. 8 December 2022. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
- ^ Hussain, Abid. "Who is Asim Munir, Pakistan's new army chief?". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
- ^ Sharan, Sunil. "Asim Munir: The tough guy who became Pakistani army chief". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
- ^ https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/pakistans-imran-khan-openly-accuses-military-trying-destroy-his-party-2023-06-04/
- ^ https://www.wilsoncenter.org/blog-post/undermining-justice-court-martialing-civilians-pakistan
- ^ https://tribune.com.pk/story/2431335/imrans-nephew-hassaan-niazi-handed-over-to-military-for-trial-lhc-told
- ^ https://theprint.in/world/gutter-language-ex-us-envoy-slams-pakistan-army-chief-over-closed-door-tirade-after-9-may-violence/1583576/
- ^ Syed, Baqir Sajjad (11 October 2018). "Asim Munir made new ISI chief". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 8 November 2022.