General Asim Munir has what is arguably the most powerful position in the country after he took charge of Pakistan’s nuclear-armed military last wee
The 57-year-old former spy chief can now hold significant sway over the country’s internal and external affairs.
Munir has taken over at a time when Pakistan faces multiple crises: a voluble opposition demanding immediate elections, an economic meltdown, and historic floods that submerged one-third of the country this year.
Here are the five biggest tasks before Munir as he begins his tenure:
Analysts say the foremost challenge the new army chief must tackle is the chaos and instability engulfing politics since former Prime Minister Imran Khan was removed from office.
Khan lost a parliamentary vote of confidence in April this year, a defeat he alleged was orchestrated by the United States in collusion with his political rivals and the powerful military.
In a U-turn last month, the head of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) party said he no longer blamed the US for his removal, stressing that he wants good relations with Washington if and when he comes back to power.
Even though Khan continues to fiercely criticise the military for its intervention in politics, the cricketer-turned-politician has previously asked the army to advance elections, otherwise due in late 2023.
Lahore-based political analyst says Munir’s term will be closely watched after what his predecessor Qamar Javed Bajwa said in his farewell speech last month.
Addressing the army’s top brass, Bajwa said the military has decided to no longer meddle in political matters, because such interventions, which happened in the past according to him, would be unconstitutional.
“He (Munir) must first establish his credibility as a truly neutral army chief so that he is acceptable across the political spectrum without question,” Nizami told Al Jazeera.
Mosharraf Zaidi of Islamabad-based Tabadlab think-tank says the military’s frequent meddling in politics and its control over media should end.
“Under a new chief, the military must resist the urge to use the vast extraconstitutional and illegal influence and power the military has over judiciary, the civilian administration across the country and the news media,” he said.
Military’s image
That brings us to Munir’s second biggest challenge – the military’s image among the Pakistani people.
The army has directly ruled Pakistan for more than 30 of its 75 years as an independent nation and is considered the country’s chief arbiter in domestic matters, whether in power or not.
Retired army general Omar Mahmood Hayat says boosting the morale of the military’s rank and file should be a priority for Munir.
“We have seen in the past that with a professional approach, it doesn’t take long for the image to be corrected,” he told Al Jazeera.
Asif Yasin Malik, former defence secretary and retired army officer, thinks “perception management” will be a challenge for Munir.
“The first challenge for him is to manage the perception about army regarding its involvement in politics. This is the first thing he must go after and rectify. This is hurting army’s operational mindset,” he said.
“They [soldiers] should be able to see what is happening in the world and what is being said on WhatsApp or social media, but their focus should be towards their mission and professional orientation.”
