Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir

Force in Play

Completed Tehran visit; Pakistani sources confirm second-round US-Iran talks targeted for Monday April 21 in Islamabad, coinciding with ceasefire expiry

The US reimposed its naval blockade on Iranian ports July 14 and launched a fifth wave of strikes targeting coastal defenses and cruise missile storage on Greater Tunb Island. Iran hit two UAE tankers in the Strait of Hormuz that same day, killing one Indian crew member and wounding eight others — the first fatality aboard a civilian vessel since the ceasefire collapsed. Trump announced a 20% toll on Hormuz cargo, then reversed it within hours after Gulf leaders called to object; he said Middle Eastern nations would make investment deals with the US instead.

Updated 1 hour ago

Force in Play

Traveled to Tehran May 22 to meet Pezeshkian; traveled to Beijing with Sharif for Xi Jinping meeting May 25

Indirect talks in Doha closed July 2 with two concrete outputs: a mechanism to buy goods using part of Iran's frozen $6 billion in Qatar, and a channel for flagging MOU violations through Qatar. Both delegations stayed in separate rooms; Qatar and Pakistan shuttled between them. Iran's nuclear program was not substantively addressed, despite Trump telling reporters on July 1 that 'the denuclearization of Iran is moving along well.'

Updated Jul 2

Force in Play

Directing military pause during Eid ceasefire and China-mediated peace talks

Pakistan and Afghanistan are in their most intense military confrontation since the Taliban took power in 2021. On March 17, 2026, Pakistan struck a 2,000-bed hospital in Kabul, killing approximately 400 people and injuring nearly 250 — the conflict's deadliest single incident, according to Afghan officials.

Updated May 29

Force in Play

In office; leading counterinsurgency efforts

On May 24 and 25, 2026, the BLA struck Quetta on consecutive days, killing at least 53 people. A suicide car bomb detonated next to a passenger train; the following day, a car-park explosion hit the railway station.

Updated May 26

Force in Play

Architect of Pakistan's deeper military ties with Riyadh

Pakistan sent about 8,000 troops, 16 JF-17 fighter jets, two drone squadrons, and a Chinese HQ-9 air defense system to Saudi Arabia in early April. Reuters and Bloomberg confirmed the deployment on May 18. The forces arrived during active fighting; on April 8, Pakistan announced a ceasefire that both Washington and Tehran credited.

Updated May 19