Opinion | General Asim Munir’s Kashmir Policy

In the serene valleys of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), where the beauty of nature once beckoned tourists from across the globe, a dark cloud of terror descended in Phalgam recently , casting a long shadow over the J&K’s fragile peace. Pakistan’s Army Chief, Field Marshal General Asim Munir, whose provocative rhetoric and complicity in terrorism have reignited security concerns.

Far from being a bystander, Munir’s actions and words are orchestrating a deadly game that profits from chaos, leaving innocent lives in J&K shattered in its wake.

On April 16, 2025, just days before the horrific Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives, all tourists, General Munir addressed an Overseas Pakistanis Convention in Islamabad, declaring Kashmir as Pakistan’s “jugular vein” and vowing unwavering support for the so-called “struggle” against “Indian occupation.”

These remarks, dripping with communal overtones and a revival of the divisive two-nation theory, were not mere posturing. Indian intelligence agencies and security analysts have linked Munir’s inflammatory statements to the timing and nature of the Pahalgam massacre, suggesting they served as a dog whistle for terrorists groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba, which orchestrated the attack.

The Pahalgam attack, – one of the deadliest civilian massacre in J&K, saw heavily armed terrorists target tourists in Baisaran meadow, a place known as Kashmir’s “mini Switzerland.” The brutality was chilling: terrorists asked victims, their name before shooting them in the head, unmoved by their pleas.

The little-known terrorists group Kashmir Resistance, a front for Pakistan-based terrorist outfits like Lashkar-e-Taiba , claimed responsibility, citing grievances over alleged “demographic changes” in J&K. Yet, behind this facade of ideological struggle lies a more sinister reality: a calculated strategy to destabilize J&K, backed by Munir’s military establishment, which thrives on perpetuating unrest.

Critics, including former Pentagon official Michael Rubin, have gone so far as to compare Munir to Osama bin Laden, accusing him of embodying a dangerous ideology that cloaks terrorism in the guise of legitimacy. Rubin’s assessment points to Munir’s nuclear threats , wherein he reportedly claimed that if Pakistan “goes down, it would take half the world down” with it.

Such rhetoric, combined with his public endorsement of terror groups as “legitimate freedom fighters,” paints a disturbing picture of a military leader who sees chaos as a currency of power. India’s Ministry of External Affairs has condemned these remarks, highlighting the “irresponsibility inherent” in a high-ranking official making nuclear threats while aligning with terrorist groups.

The cost of Munir’s “dirty games” is borne by the innocent people of J&K. In J&K, families mourn loved ones like Indian Navy Lieutenant Vinay Narwal, a newlywed killed in the Pahalgam attack, and Sujatha, who watched her husband gunned down before her eyes by the terrorists .

The attack not only shattered lives but also dealt a blow to Kashmir’s burgeoning tourism industry, which had seen a revival after years of strife. Security forces have since demolished the homes of terrorists and detained some people mostly former terrorists and overground workers, in a desperate bid to curb the violence. Yet, the root of the problem, critics argue, lies across the border, where Munir’s military machine fuels terrorism to keep J&K on edge.

Munir’s defenders in Pakistan claim he is a patriot, driven by a sense of religious duty and national pride, as evidenced by his status as a Hafiz-e-Quran and his rapid rise to Field Marshal. But this piety is overshadowed by accusations of political overreach and a return to the Islamist legacy of General Zia-ul-Haq.

His tenure as head of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) during the 2019 Pulwama attack, which killed 40 CRPF personnel, raises questions about his long-standing role in orchestrating violence in J&K.

The international community has not been silent. US President Donald Trump, while condemning the Pahalgam attack, a stance that critics argue emboldens Munir’s provocations. The US State Department has long called out Pakistan’s support for terrorism, yet diplomatic engagements with Munir, including his meetings with US military officials, suggest a troubling tolerance for his rhetoric.

India’s response has been resolute: Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7, 2025, targeted terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan-controlled territories, destroying camps linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed. Pakistan’s claims of “victory” in repelling these strikes ring hollow, with Munir’s media machine accused of spinning defeats into propaganda.

As J&K grapples with the aftermath of violence, the question looms: how long will General Asim Munir’s games of terror continue to hold the region hostage? His rhetoric may rally hardliners in Pakistan, but it comes at the cost of innocent lives and regional stability. The international community must hold Pakistan’s military accountable, lest Munir’s provocations drag South Asia into an abyss of conflict. For the people of J&K, peace remains a distant dream, overshadowed by the ambitions of a general who, critics charge, profits from their suffering.
(The author freelance write based in J&K. He can be contacted at welfare166@gmail.com)