As I was in the car returning home  from a studio  in the evening. A WhatsApp notification popped up from one of my fauji WhatsApp groups:

“General Asim Munir promoted to Field Marshal.”

I just wrote Lol and reacted with a laughing emoji . Obviously, it was a joke, I thought  & commented, “Yeahhhh, for a humiliating defeat.” All in good humour. But then someone called and confirmed that the news wasn’t a joke—it was true.

I paused for a moment in disbelief, not knowing whether to believe my friend, who did sound very serious and convincing. I laughed and said, “Good acting bro—good acting.” My driver, watching my expressions in the rear-view mirror, gave me a look—the kind you give when someone adds sugar to dal—and let out a soft chuckle. Or maybe I imagined it. Either way, I knew something was off.

You see, when you’ve worn the olive green, there are things you just know. One of them is this—stars on the uniform aren’t just accessories.

In India, ranks aren’t mere designations. They are legacies.

They are earned in trenches, through trust, triumph, and timeless service—not by ticking administrative boxes.

India has awarded the rank of Field Marshal only twice in its history— to Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa, the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army post-Independence.

& to Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, the architect of the 1971 victory, where my father too fought bravely.

These weren’t symbolic gestures. They were salutes to men who changed the course of military history—legends who led from the front, earned loyalty in battle, and left behind doctrines, not just decorations.

Now let's talk about Pakistan’s new Field Marshal (I’m in splits as I write this). He’s been decorated not for victory, but for survival—or rather, self-promoted / appointed to cover a humiliating defeat before the world as an attempt to save face.

In a system where the Chief of Army Staff tenure is as unstable as the economy, merely holding onto the chair seems like an achievement. Promotion, then, becomes a matter of optics—good PR, not great performance.

So what has General Munir done to earn this title?

Did he lead his troops to a decisive victory?

Did he redefine Pakistan’s military doctrine?

Did he conduct an operation that made the world take note?

No. Not at all. Absolutely not.

In fact, during his tenure, he watched—somewhat helplessly—as India launched Operation Sindoor, a brilliant strategic maneuver that tightened our hold in the region without firing a single bullet.

While India painted the skies saffron with symbolism and strength, Pakistan's military establishment rushed to save face and hide in the bunkers.

And how did they respond? By handing out a Field Marshal title like it was a Diwali bonus for the Diwali bombs going phuss.

Let’s be honest—this feels less like a military milestone and more like a corporate promotion in a struggling startup:

“They may not have results, but hey, here’s a fancy new title!”

What a mockery of the uniform.

As a Defense Analyst, I find this deeply concerning.

Such titles, especially during peacetime and without corresponding military achievement, dilute the sanctity of military ranks. They politicize the armed forces and—most dangerously—try to rewrite public narratives.

It’s like putting a cherry on a cake that never baked. Or to borrow my earlier metaphor: sugar in dal.

Meanwhile, in India, our soldiers continue doing what they’ve always done—earning their ranks the hard way.

Through sacrifice, service, and strategy.

We don’t need to stitch stars to self-esteem. Our strength lies in substance.

Now I do have some questions:

Since General Munir has now appointed himself to this post, has President Zardari and Prime Minister Sharif officially sanctioned this?

If so, there must be a motive—because such moves are never apolitical.

Could this signal a return to Pakistan’s dark past—the Zia-ul-Haq era?

Will General Munir now behave like Field Marshal Ayub Khan, undertake a coup if necessary, and push the country back under direct military rule?

Could this also mark the final political blow to Imran Khan?

So, congratulations to General Munir—or as he is popularly known, Mullah Munir—oops, sorry, Field Marshal or Failed Marshal Munir.

But as someone who has lived the discipline and honour of military service, I remind my readers:

A title does not create a legacy; a legacy creates the title.

Jai Hind!!!

(Major (Dr.) Mohommed Ali Shah is an Arny veteran and a renowned TedX speaker.  Major Shah is son of Lt Gen Zameer Uddin Shah, ex VC AMU and nephew of famous actor Naseeruddin Shah.  Major Shah has himself acted in a few Bollywood films too. Views are personal)