Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir on Thursday reiterated the armed forces’ commitment to support the government’s initiatives for improving the country’s academic environment and promoting innovative research.
Addressing participants of ‘Hilal Talks’ at General Headquarters, he encouraged academia to play a proactive role in promoting national harmony, stability, peace and progress. According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Field Marshal Munir emphasized the need for critical thinking and imperatives of knowledge-driven economies. He said Pakistan’s academic institutions must serve as centers for critical thinking, reasoning and organic innovative solutions for national progress.
The Army chief also acknowledged challenges facing higher education, including in the field of research.
‘Hilal Talks’ refers to a series of interactive sessions and group discussions on a range of international, regional and national issues. The initiative of the military’s media wing aims to act as a forum for perspective sharing among members of Pakistan’s academic community. Thursday’s session brought together around 1,800 members of the academic community, comprising vice chancellors, heads of departments, senior faculty members, principals and students from institutions across Pakistan.
A majority of the participants engaged with the forum virtually, with the ISPR saying special emphasis was on participation from southern districts in Balochistan, Pakistan-administered Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.
Indian Hegemony
In his address, the Field Marshal stressed that Pakistan would never accept Indian hegemony in South Asia, adding Islamabad was steadfast in its stance on key disputes such as Jammu and Kashmir and the Indus Water Treaty. “Water is Pakistan’s red line, and we will not allow any compromise on this basic right of 240 million Pakistanis,” he said, referring to Delhi’s recent decision to “hold in abeyance” the 1960 World Bank-mediated agreement governing the distribution of the Indus river system’s resources between Pakistan and India.
“In Marka-e-Haq, Allah Almighty helped Pakistan at every level,” he continued, referring to the conflict between Pakistan and India from April 22 to May 10. “Marka-e-Haq is clear evidence that when a nation unites and stands like an iron wall, no power in the world can bring it down,” he told the forum. “Divine help is granted to those nations that stand firmly for the truth and struggle collectively for their cause,” he added.
“It is no longer possible to ignore or silence Kashmir on the global stage,” he said, reiterating that Kashmir remains a core national issue that cannot be sidelined. “India must understand that Pakistan will never abandon Kashmir. There can be no compromise on this,” he said, adding India’s longstanding efforts to suppress the Kashmir issue have failed.
“Terrorism is India’s internal problem, stemming from rising oppression and prejudice against minorities, especially Muslims, while Kashmir is an international issue that cannot be equated with internal matters,” he said.
The Army chief also addressed unrest in Balochistan, reiterating the state’s stance that separatist groups are proxies acting on behalf of foreign interests, particularly India. “These terrorists are not Baloch. They are agents of disruption sponsored by India,” he said, emphasizing the need for national unity, supported by institutional integrity and constitutional governance. “We must build a strong Pakistan where all institutions function according to law, without political pressure, and for the welfare of the people,” he said, calling for the rejection of any narrative aimed at weakening the state.
“Teachers are the greatest asset of Pakistan,” he told the participants. “The responsibility of character building of future generations rests with you,” he said, crediting his own success to his parents and teachers.
Following the speech, the Army chief engaged in a candid Q&A session with the participants, who appreciated the ‘Hilal Talks’ and expressed confidence that such initiatives would significantly contribute in fostering an atmosphere for sharing ideas, open up avenues for research and innovation, and gradually strengthen national cohesion through sustained interaction.
The forum, read the ISPR statement, concluded with a shared commitment to work together towards a more secure and prosperous Pakistan.