'Disproportionately Concentrated': Pakistan's Post-War Credit, Awards 'Monopolised' By Asim Munir | Exclusive

Last Updated:August 14, 2025, 21:37 IST

This is in sharp contrast to India's treatment of its military in the aftermath of 'Operation Sindoor'. The Centre's gallantry awards only recognise combatants from operations

Pakistani COAS Field Marshal Asim Munir has been taking medals instead of giving them away. (Image: News18)

Pakistan’s military awards, following its standoff with India, have been monopolised by Field Marshal Asim Munir. This post-war credit has been “disproportionately concentrated" on the Chief of Army Staff, said top intelligence sources.

This is in sharp contrast to India’s treatment of its military in the aftermath of ‘Operation Sindoor’. The central government’s gallantry awards only recognise combatants from operations.

Pakistani awards, meanwhile, highlight top-brass self-projection and political weakness. India has not given away ceremonial awards to the three service chiefs.

India is honouring nine air force officers with the Vir Chakra for precision strikes on Pakistan’s Muridke and Bahawalpur during the conflict. At least 26 armed forces personnel have received the Vayu Sena Medal (gallantry), including S-400 and air defence operators who shielded Indian skies.

Senior IAF officers in leadership positions have received Yudh Seva Medals for operational planning, and yet the awards have been restricted to those directly involved. Sixteen BSF jawans have been awarded for counter-drone, anti-infiltration, and enemy surveillance disruption along the western front.

The awards have been spread across the armed forces, police, fire service and civil defence, with heavy representation from Jammu and Kashmir and Naxal-affected zones.

Munir, meanwhile, has been taking medals instead of giving them away. First, he was promoted to Field Marshal in May after the conflict, despite the fact that he does not have a frontline combat role.

On August 13, Azerbaijan awarded him the Patriotic War Medal for bilateral defence cooperation, unrelated to Indo-Pakistan war performance. 

According to top intelligence sources, Pakistani authorities have sidelined field commanders and frontline troops creating silent discontent within the ranks.

The sources told CNN-News18 that the decoration medals for Munir are seen internally as an attempt to craft a “war hero" narrative to mask operational setbacks during the conflict. By rewarding himself and restricting honours to select loyalists, he has ensured that real battlefield failures and underperformance do not come into the public domain, they said.

The absence of recognition for actual combat units is causing frustration among middle-level officials, signalling a weakening command structure, the sources said. Munir’s awards are less about military merit and more about consolidating personal authority within the military establishment, they said. Munir is securing influence over civilian leadership, they added.

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News world 'Disproportionately Concentrated': Pakistan's Post-War Credit, Awards 'Monopolised' By Asim Munir | Exclusive

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