Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir delivered a pointed message to Afghanistan’s interim leadership, urging the Taliban regime to clamp down on militant proxies that are reportedly using Afghan territory to launch attacks into Pakistan. Speaking at a ceremony at the Pakistan Military Academy in Kakul, the army chief framed his remarks as a warning to hostile actors who, he said, exploit regional instability to pursue violent agendas.
Addressing cadets and senior officers, Field Marshal Munir said Pakistan has observed a worrying pattern in which extremist groups — described as “proxies” sheltered inside Afghanistan — are being used to target Pakistani citizens and security forces. “These proxies use Afghan soil to carry out ghastly attacks inside Pakistan,” he said, stressing that the Taliban leadership must act to stop such permissive sanctuaries. He appealed directly to Afghanistan’s interim rulers to take responsibility for preventing their territory from being used as a launchpad for violence.
The army chief’s remarks came alongside broader regional warnings. He framed the threat within a larger strategic narrative, accusing external adversaries of manipulating local militants as “hired guns” to foment instability. He used a phrase that captured the twin dangers he sees: “Fitna al-Hind” and “Fitna al-Khawarij” — terms that, in his characterization, denote foreign-instigated communal discord and violent extremist currents exploited to destabilize the region. According to Munir, such tactics expose the “cowardly face” of those who sponsor or manipulate proxy actors.
Munir urged the Afghan populace and leadership to choose mutual security over perpetual violence. “We call on the people of Afghanistan to opt for mutual security instead of endless conflict,” he said, arguing that regional stability benefits the entire neighborhood and that continued violence will only breed suffering for ordinary civilians on both sides of the border. This appeal echoed repeated public statements from Pakistani officials asking neighboring actors to refrain from allowing their soil to be used against Pakistan.
The army chief also used the platform to issue a stern warning to Indian military leadership, reflecting longstanding tensions between the two countries. While the address highlighted multiple security fronts, its central thrust remained focused on cross-border militancy emanating from Afghan territory. Munir’s speech at the prestigious military academy underscored that concerns over proxy groups and foreign meddling are integral to Pakistan’s current security calculus.
