Field marshal says future leaders must remain alert to recognise and counter such multi-layered cognitive challenges
Chief of Defence Forces, Field Marshal Asim Munir poses for group photograph with faculty and staff of the National Defence University during his visit to the institution in Islamabad on Tuesday. Photo: ISPR
Chief of Defence Forces, Field Marshal Asim Munir said the country faces wide-ranging and persistent challenges, warning that hostile elements are increasingly adopting indirect and ambiguous tactics — including the use of proxies — to exploit internal fault lines rather than engaging in direct confrontation.
Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Field Marshal Asim Munir made the remarks during his visit to the National Defence University (NDU), where he interacted with civil and military participants of the ongoing National Security and War Course, according to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Tuesday.
During the interaction, CDF Munir outlined the evolving global, regional and internal security environment, saying the country faces “broad and persistent challenges”.
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He said these challenges spanned “conventional, sub-conventional, intelligence, cyber, information, military, economic and other domains”, requiring “comprehensive multi-domain preparedness, continuous adaptation and synergy amongst all elements of national power”.
The field marshal cautioned that hostile elements “increasingly employ indirect and ambiguous approaches, including the use of proxies to exploit internal fault lines, rather than overt confrontation”, stressing that future leaders must be trained and remain alert to “recognise, anticipate, and counter such multi-layered cognitive challenges”.
He also emphasised the importance of decision-making under uncertainty, saying that “clarity and intellectual resilience are critical attributes for operating in today’s contested and diffused security environment”.
Commending the role of the National Defence University, the army chief described it as a premier institution for developing strategic thinkers capable of translating “rigorous training and academic insight into effective policy formulation and operational outcomes”.
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He added that professional military education “remains central to strengthening institutional capacity, fostering indigenous capability, and ensuring long-term national resilience”.
Concluding his address, the field marshal appreciated the panels’ “sharp analysis and conclusions” and urged participants to remain “vigilant, adaptive, and steadfast in upholding the values of integrity, discipline, and selfless service”.
