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Last Updated:May 20, 2025, 10:04 IST
Unlike Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar, who are non-state actors, Munir’s actions reflect state policy, combining state power, religious authority, and militant ideology.
Munir revived the Two-Nation Theory, declared Kashmir Pakistan’s 'jugular vein', and invoked Hindu-Muslim divisions to justify proxy attacks. (File image)
Top intelligence sources are warning of a dangerous evolution of Jihad in Pakistan, following a speech by Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir in Pahalgam, which was shortly followed by the killing of 26 Hindus within 96 hours. This speech was not merely rhetorical but was interpreted as a command to kill, presenting a significant challenge for India in countering an army chief who masquerades as a holy warrior exploiting faith to wage war, top intelligence sources said.
Sources indicate Asim Munir leads the third generation of Jihad in Pakistan, weaponising the Quran and leveraging state power. His actions align with the goals of Hafiz Saeed and Maulana Masood Azhar to liberate Kashmir but with the support of state machinery, sources say. Unlike Saeed and Azhar, who are non-state actors, Munir’s actions reflect state policy, combining state power, religious authority, and militant ideology. This duality amplifies his capacity to institutionalise jihadism as a state policy, sources add.
Munir has integrated radical clerics into the training programs of the Pakistani army, indoctrinating soldiers with the belief that Jihad for Kashmir is a divine duty, sources say. This approach transforms state-backed terrorism into a religious obligation for soldiers and militants. Sources say Munir frequently reads Quranic verses and offers his interpretations during meetings, emphasising the importance of countering “oppressors", implicitly referring to Indian forces and government.
According to sources, Munir’s spiritual justification for proxy warfare invokes Quranic verses, framing the fight for Allah as a divine duty, similar to the rhetoric of Saeed and Azhar. This strategy threatens to normalise jihadism as a tool of statecraft.
Munir’s era has seen the revival of support for groups like The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). They have been provided with drones, encrypted communication, and safe havens. Sources indicate that Munir, using Pakistan’s military-intelligence machinery, including the ISI, has executed attacks such as the 2025 Pahalgam massacre targeting Hindus. Following these attacks, diplomatic cover and disinformation campaigns are employed to shield the perpetrators.
In conclusion, countering Munir’s duality requires exposing his exploitation of faith for militant purposes. His ability to cloak terrorism in Quranic legitimacy and military strategy poses a significant threat, as it institutionalises jihadism under the guise of state policy. This evolution of Jihad in Pakistan, under the leadership of Asim Munir, presents a serious challenge for India and the region.
Location : First Published:News world 'Exploiting Faith For War': Asim Munir Leading Dangerous Evolution Of Jihad In Pakistan, Say Sources | Exclusive
