ThePrint NationalInterest: Munir’s innovation in dictatorship & why Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh are doing better than Pakistan
Dec 6, 2025
The podcast dives into Pakistan's unique military innovations, spotlighting Asim Munir's rare five-year tenure and the implications for civilian governance. It examines the country's historical penchant for military rule while contrasting it with neighboring nations like Bangladesh and Nepal, which have embraced democratic reforms. The discussion highlights successful transitions to civilian power and the armies' roles in stabilizing democracy. Ultimately, it paints a picture of regional resilience and the potential superiority of civilian-led governance over military dominance.
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Munir's Unprecedented Power Grab
- Shekhar Gupta argues Asim Munir engineered constitutional and political changes to secure a life-like grip on power.
- Munir's appointment as field marshal and five-year CDF tenure represents unprecedented military innovation in Pakistan.
Two Chiefs For Two Days
- Gupta recounts how Munir was appointed chief a day before his retirement, resulting in two serving chiefs for two days.
- He then retired and continued as chief for a week until the notification was issued, creating a retroactive tenure quirk.
Historical Roots Of Military Rule
- Gupta traces Pakistan's pattern of military rule back to 1958 and innovations like self-promotion to field marshal.
- Long army tenures and short civilian governments have become structural in Pakistan's political evolution.