Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir

Force in Play

Travelled to Tehran in late August carrying a US offer to lift 'a sizable part' of sanctions in exchange for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, according to Pakistani government sources

Iran said on November 2 that it could reopen the Strait of Hormuz within two days and restart nuclear talks, shortening a plan it had earlier said would take a week. The offer kept its conditions: the US must lift sanctions on Iranian oil, accept a ceasefire that covers Lebanon, and let ships use a route agreed with Oman under Iranian supervision.

Updated Yesterday

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

Four oil tankers, including a supertanker carrying two million barrels, were on fire after hitting mines in the Strait of Hormuz on October 31, Iran's Revolutionary Guard said. The Guard said the ships used unauthorized routes and ignored warnings; a projectile also hit a vessel south of Lavan, and Oman evacuated 25 crew from a burning Panama-flagged tanker off Musandam.

Updated 5 days ago

Force in Play

Oversees Pakistani forces in the kingdom through the trilateral Makkah alliance as US-Iran talks lose momentum

Britain is sending Royal Air Force Typhoon fighters to help Saudi Arabia defend cities and oil sites from Houthi missiles and drones. Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said the jets will fly defensive sorties only and will not strike Yemen. Pakistan's Foreign Office said on October 16 that Islamabad is 'fully on board' with the Makkah pact.

Updated Oct 27

Force in Play

In Tehran on October 20 to convey a Qatar-Pakistan compromise proposal

Iran's president and foreign minister attended the UN General Assembly in late September, and the visit led to indirect US-Iran talks through Qatar about reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Iran offered to reopen the waterway within seven days if Washington lifts its naval blockade, eases oil sanctions, releases frozen assets and ends hostilities on all fronts. President Donald Trump rejected that offer, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio ordered Iran's delegation to leave New York early; Tehran denied being ordered out.

Updated Oct 20

Force in Play

As of October 2026: Oversaw airstrikes on September 21 and 24 and again on October 1 in Kunar and Helmand

Pakistan and Afghanistan traded fire in the first days of October, and each government said it killed dozens of the other's troops. Islamabad calls the fight an "open war" and says airstrikes will continue until the Taliban reins in the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the militant group Pakistan blames for cross-border attacks.

Updated Oct 4

Force in Play

As of May 2026: 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