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OPINION AUGUST 28, 2026 | The Indian Eye 12

several terror camps in Pakistan Oc-
cupied Jammu and Kashmir (POJK)
as well as in Punjab province, which
included inter alia Sawai Nala Camp
and Syedna Bilal Camp in Muzaf-
farabad, Gulpur and Abbas Camps
in Kotli, Barnala Camp in Bhimber,
Markaz Taiba Camp in Muridke,
Markaz Subhanallah Camp in Baha-
walpur, Sarjal and Mahmoona Joya
Camps in Sialkot. India also targeted
11 airfields in the Punjab and Sindh
provinces of Pakistan, including Nur
Khan/Chaklala (Rawalpindi), Rafiqui
(Shorkot), Murid, Rahim Yar Khan,
Chunian, Sargodha, Pasrur and Si-
alkot, Sukkur, Bholari and Jacobabad.
Despite the stunning success of
Indian armed forces during the four-
day military action, Pakistan made
unsuccessful attempts to build a nar- Despite the stunning success of Indian armed forces during the four-day military action of Operation Sindoor, Pakistan made unsuccessful
rative as if it had achieved some vic-
tory. To lend its peddled narrative attempts to build a narrative as if it had achieved some victory (File photo)
some credence, on 20 May 2026, the
Pakistani cabinet decided to promote dictate terms. League-Nawaz (PML-N) over the re- dismissed the proposal as a stereotype
Asim Munir to the rank of Field Mar- The Troika system was disrupted cently concluded elections in POJK’s which would not be acceptable to the
shal. In less than six months, politi- when Gen. Pervez Musharraf abro- Gilgit Baltistan (GB) and so-called people of Sindh.
co-security elites introduced the 27th gated the constitution in October 1999 ‘Azad Kashmir’. Amid a fast-changing geopolitical
constitutional amendment, which cre- and assumed direct control of the Recent developments in Pakistan situation in the Middle East, Pakistan
ated a new constitutional post, Chief country’s affairs. In the wake of a unit- have cumulatively led to growing dis- has put its diplomatic machinery into
of Defence Forces (CDF), to be held ed political opposition and an insur- gruntlement in the broader society, action to facilitate understanding be-
concurrently by the COAS for a peri- mountable challenge in the Supreme which may, in the coming time, trans- tween the United States and Iran so
od of five years. Court during Iftikhar Muhammad form into a severe crisis. It is import- that the ongoing crisis can end. Its
In a completely changed situa- Chaudhry’s Chief Justiceship, a highly ant to note that these developments top political and military leadership,
tion, the CDF became one of the most unpopular Musharraf first had to shed are unfolding at a time when at least including Prime Minister Shehbaz
powerful constitutional authorities in his uniform and later the Presidency. four South Asian countries, including Sharif, Field Marshal Asim Munir
the country, as individuals holding the Unlike Musharraf, Asim Munir is India, have witnessed Gen-Z move- and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi,
position could only be removed with well aware of history and is operating ments. Munir knows this well, and has engaged with relevant stakehold-
a two-thirds majority in parliament. In in a different environment. At a time that is why he is looking for ways to ers to defuse tensions. However, de-
contrast, the requirement to de-seat when politico-security elites in Paki- defuse internal tensions and address spite several rounds of interaction, no
the Prime Minister remains a simple stan are busy taking credit for their the growing unease in society. lasting agreement has been reached
majority. Besides, CDF now enjoys role as peacemakers in the ongoing The speech created a political between the two parties.
lifelong immunity from arrest and Middle East crisis, the internal polit- storm in Pakistan that none of the po- Besides PTI, PPP have also locked
prosecution. Additionally, the amend- ical and security situation at home has litical parties was prepared for. This horns with ruling PML-N over the
ment granted sweeping powers to the increasingly been deteriorating. The was seconded by Director General In- recent elections in POJK. So far, the
executive and legislative branches by economy has somewhat stabilised. ter Services Public Relations (DG-IS- security establishment has somehow
authorising the creation of a Federal However, there are no signs of real PR) on 31 July at a news conference managed the situation. However, it is
Constitutional Court with the author- growth and development. Two out of during which Gen. Ahmad Sharif not entirely confident in its ability to ef-
ity to override decisions of the Su- four provinces, along with the POJK, Chaudhry stated that “… good gover- fectively address the multifaceted cri-
preme Court. Amnesty International are in turmoil. nance is due for the security and sta- sis that is giving rise to societal unease
termed the amendment a grave threat The Baloch Liberation Army bility of Pakistan…without this, none and internal tensions. It is also wor-
to judicial independence and the rule (BLA) in Balochistan and Teh- of our issues could be resolved”. ried about the possibility of a Gen-Z
of law in Pakistan. reek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in Khy- Mohsin Naqvi, in the present dis- movement in the country. In the re-
The recent political, legal and ber Pakhtunkhwa have pushed the pensation in Islamabad, is considered cent past, South Asia has witnessed
constitutional moves have undoubt- security establishment on the back- quite close to the security establish- at least four youth-led movements.
edly strengthened Asim Munir’s grip foot by repeatedly attacking military ment. Therefore, his remarks reflect Dr Ashish Shukla is Associate Fellow
on the country’s political system and installations in the respective provinc- the anxiety within the security estab- at MP-IDSA, New Delhi. Prior to
undermined important democratic es. Deadly protests and clashes have lishment about a possible Gen-Z up- joining MP-IDSA, Dr. Shukla was
institutions, including parliament and been reported in parts of POJK where rising in Pakistan. Both PML-N and associated with Amity University, Noida
the judiciary. However, it has also in- the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Ac- PPP are uncomfortable with such a where he taught courses in Defence &
advertently led to significant unease tion Committee (JAAC) has locked proposition and consider it a recipe Strategic Studies
within society, as people’s hopes for horns with Islamabad over several for disaster that could negatively af-
good governance, economic growth, issues.[13] Apart from Pakistan Teh- fect their political prospects in the The full version of this article
and development have remained un- reek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) intermittent tar- future. PPP’s Nayyar Bokhari has said first appeared in the Comments section
fulfilled. The military in Pakistan is geting of the federal government and that the Central Executive Committee of the website (www.idsa.in) of Mano-
an image-conscious institution, as it the security establishment, Pakistan will take up the question of new ad- har Parrikar Institute for Defense
knows very well that with a dented People’s Party (PPP) has opened a ministrative units. In contrast, Sindh Studies and Analyses, New Delhi, on
image it may not be in a position to new front against Pakistan Muslim Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah August 19, 2026

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