Pakistan’s prime minister has promoted the country’s powerful army chief, Gen. Asim Munir, to the rank of field marshal, making him only the second military officer in Pakistan’s history to hold the title.

Pakistan's army chief General Asim Munir is the most powerful man in the country, but his popular support has surged after the worst conflict in decades with arch-rival India, shattering criticism of interference in politics and harshly cracking down on opponents.

When Pakistan bestowed the honorary rank of field marshal on its army chief Asim Munir, it may have come as a surprise to many who thought Pakistan had finally been delivered a kick in the guts by Operation Sindoor for its relentless use of cross-border terrorism against India.