Asim Munir's 'Islam-and-Destiny' Message Signals Pakistan's Dangerous Turn

• Pakistan's army chief Asim Munir stated the country is moving rapidly towards its "noble purpose for which it was created," framed in explicitly religious terms.
• Munir's message, coming from the country's most powerful man, signals a dangerous trajectory, attempting to cloak geopolitical failures and economic bankruptcy in religious ideology.
• He claimed Pakistan has a "historic opportunity" bestowed by Allah, enjoys special status among Islamic countries, and is effectively dealing with terrorists, despite economic fragility and international isolation.
• The rhetoric aligns with Pakistan's long-standing effort to rebrand itself as the ideological and military guardian of Muslim causes, leveraging its nuclear status and Islamic identity.
• The message is aimed both internationally and domestically, asserting the military's dominance and using faith as a distraction from internal issues like economic hardship and political repression.

Why It Matters: Asim Munir's religious rhetoric signals Pakistan's military is asserting dominance through ideology, arms, and intimidation.