According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the army chief made these remarks on Tuesday during a visit to the National Defence University (NDU), Islamabad, where he was briefed by a panel of civil and military participants of the ongoing National Security and War Course on key national security challenges and the measures required to address them.

In his address, the Field Marshal outlined the evolving global, regional and internal security landscape.

He said Pakistan’s challenges span conventional, sub-conventional, intelligence, cyber, information, military and economic fronts, requiring continuous adaptation and a multi-domain approach.

He noted that hostile elements are increasingly avoiding direct confrontation and instead relying on indirect and ambiguous methods, including the use of proxies to exploit internal vulnerabilities.

He stressed that future leaders must be equipped to identify, anticipate and effectively counter such complex and layered cognitive threats.

The Field Marshal also underscored the importance of clear and timely decision-making under uncertainty, describing intellectual resilience as a critical leadership trait in today’s contested and diffused security environment.

Field Marshal Asim Munir praised NDU’s role in developing strategic thinkers capable of translating academic insight and professional training into effective policy and operational outcomes.

He said professional military education remains a cornerstone for strengthening institutional capacity, building indigenous capability and ensuring long-term national resilience.

Concluding his interaction, he commended the participants for their analytical depth and urged them to remain committed to the values of integrity, discipline and selfless service.

Upon arrival at the university, CDF Field Marshal Asim Munir was warmly received by the President of the National Defence University.