New Delhi: Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir believes that he is “the God ordained protector” of his country and says that has no plans of being a president or join politics.
In an interview with Pakistani journalist Suhail Warraich in Brussels, Munir denied rumours of an imminent political shake-up in Islamabad, dismissing such claims as fabrications fueled by elements seeking to destabilise the country.
“God has made me the protector of the country. I do not desire any position other than that. I am a soldier and my greatest desire is martyrdom,” he is quoted as saying.
The term martyr applies for those who die for religious or political causes and not for soldiers who lay down their lives for the country. But, then nothing better could be expected from Munir – the first Madrasah-educated Army chief of Pakistan.
“The rumours about a change are completely false. These narratives are not being spread by any civil or military institutions. In fact, behind them are elements who oppose both the government and the state apparatus and wish to create political anarchy,” Munir said.
There is speculation on social media that Pakistan president Asif Ali Zardari may be asked to resign. Zardari’s condition, according to some unverified reports, for stepping down involves securing a political role for his son, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari.
On anticipated lines, Munir again threatened to launch an attack on India if it collaborated with the Afghans “to create instability” in the country.
He accused both India and Afghanistan of destabilising Pakistan through proxy efforts and cross-border interference.
“Instead of repaying our kindness over decades, a conspiracy is being hatched (by Afghanistan) in collaboration with India. If Taliban elements are pushed into Pakistan, we will have to avenge the blood of every Pakistani,” Munir said.
He “genuinely appreciated” US president Donald Trump’s peacemaking efforts and said that he is proud that Pakistan led the way when it came to nominating Trump for the Peace Nobel.
At the same time, he said Pakistan will not choose the US over China. “We will not sacrifice one friend for the other,” he said.
Munir also painted a rosy picture, so far as Pakistan’s economic future is concerned. He spoke of lifting Pakistan out of its financial crisis and positioning it among the world’s developed nations within the next five to ten years.
India has set 2047 as the target to be declared a developed nation.
Munir projected that starting next year, Pakistan would begin generating an annual net profit of $2 billion from the Reko Diq mining project, with revenues expected to grow steadily. Emphasizing the country’s untapped wealth, he noted that Pakistan possesses significant rare earth mineral reserves-resources that, if properly harnessed, could dramatically reduce the national debt and transform Pakistan into one of the world’s most prosperous economies.
Unfortunately, experts do not believe there are substantial rare earth deposits in Pakistan. They say it is much like former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan’s claims of huge offshore oil deposits that turned out to be bogus.
Regarding Imran Khan’s incarceration, the Pakistan Army chief said that he should apologise to the military and went on to use Islamic metaphors to drive his point.
Munir compared himself to God and Khan to Satan who chooses to not recognise Adam, the first man. Drawing a parallel, he remarked that those who are willing to sincerely apologize align themselves with righteousness, like the angels, whereas those who persist in defiance resemble Satan in their obstinacy.