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NEW DELHI/ISLAMABAD: In a provocative address at the Overseas Pakistanis Convention in Islamabad, Pakistan army chief Gen Asim Munir Thursday urged Pakistanis to “narrate the story” of the country’s creation to their children, framing it as a safeguard against diluting national identity.
The Indian intelligence establishment saw the toxic rhetoric as a calculated move to repair Pakistan army’s faltering public image in the wake of worsening conflict in Balochistan and a slate of killings in Karachi and other places. The escalation of conflict with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Islamic State has only worsened its situation, with TTP frustrating Pakistan army’s long-held ambition of using Afghanistan as a colony whose role was supposed to be limited to providing ‘strategic depth’ in the event of a full-scale confrontation with India.
Sources suspected that the timing, coinciding with the Waqf Act amendment, could be an attempt to instigate Indian Muslims besides motivating Pakistan-based terrorist groups to regroup and attempt to create unrest. Pakistan’s missions have used the country’s immigrants to launch campaigns against India in foreign capitals.
“Such statements are diversionary tactics which have been tried in the past too and have not worked. Their internal security is in shambles and that is why they need such rhetoric,” a senior intelligence officer said.
Munir’s speech drew sharp criticism for its divisive tone and potential to escalate tensions with India, while also reflecting domestic political manoeuvrings. His invocation of the ‘two-nation theory‘ – a foundational ideology championed by Muhammad Ali Jinnah that led to Pakistan’s creation in 1947 – emphasised irreconcilable differences between Hindus and Muslims. Critics argued that Munir’s focus on Kashmir was an attempt to divert attention from pressing internal challenges, including the Baloch Liberation Army’s recent attacks, which he dismissed as inconsequential, claiming “even 10 generations of terrorists cannot harm Pakistan”.
Analysts saw the speech as a strategic move to bolster the military’s domestic influence amid growing unrest. By invoking the ‘two-nation theory’ and Kashmir, Munir seemed to be tapping into emotive issues to unify a fractured populace, while his anti-Hindu remarks – condemned as “shameful” by Indian social media users – cater to hardline sentiments within Pakistan.
Moreover, Munir’s dismissal of security threats, including references to the “1.3 million-strong Indian Army failing to intimidate Pakistan”, glossed over the military’s stretched resources, as it battles insurgents in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
As Pakistan navigates economic fragility and regional isolation, Munir’s speech risks further polarising society and straining diplomatic ties. While it may galvanise certain segments of the population, it sidesteps the need for pragmatic governance and reconciliation with neighbours. For overseas Pakistanis, the call to perpetuate the ‘two-nation theory’ may resonate as a nostalgic nod to their roots, but it also burdens future generations with a divisive legacy that could hinder Pakistan’s path to stability and global integration.
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