By Staff Reporter
KHAIRPUR TAMEWALI: Pakistan’s armed forces are pushing through a broad overhaul in several key areas to keep pace with fast-evolving warfare driven by technology, army chief Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir said on Thursday during a visit to a southern garrison where troops demonstrated drone-integrated drills.
Munir, doubling as chief of defence forces, delivered the assessment while speaking to soldiers at Bahawalpur Garrison in Punjab province after watching the “Steadfast Resolve” exercise unfold in the dusty terrain of Khairpur Tamewali, the military’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.
The Bahawalpur Corps, one of the army’s main strike units, covers the desert stretches of southern Punjab with several divisions in its lineup. It has long honed its edge on tech-heavy, cross-domain tactics, running frequent maneuvers in spots like Khairpur Tamewali to simulate real-world demands.
“The character of war has evolved massively, with technological advancements driving the evolution, dictating huge mental transformation at all tiers,” Munir told the assembled officers and troops, according to the ISPR. “In the future, technological maneuvers will replace physical maneuvers and will fundamentally alter the way offensive and defensive operations are undertaken.”
Pakistan’s military, he added, is “embracing and absorbing technology at a rapid pace,” putting “innovation, indigenisation and adaptation” front and center in the shift. Munir took time to commend the troops on their strong spirits, sharp skills and battle-ready stance, while underscoring that the forces stand primed to protect Pakistan’s borders and sovereignty from any dangers. He hammered home the urgency of staying at full alert to tackle whatever the next conflict or security test might throw their way, the ISPR said.
The exercise itself wove in specialised gear like unmanned aerial systems, high-end surveillance tools, electronic warfare setups and streamlined command networks, all aimed at sharpening the military’s knack for tech-fused operations across multiple fronts, the statement explained.
While at the garrison, Munir got an in-depth rundown on the corps’ day-to-day operations, training routines and admin side, zeroing in especially on gearing up for warfare that spans land, air, cyber and beyond. Right after touching down, the corps commander welcomed him. Munir then placed a wreath at the martyrs’ memorial, said a prayer and honored those who had given their lives in service. Before that, he kicked off the ROHI eSkills Learning Hub, a setup meant to boost digital know-how and open doors for learning, with a nod to kids from southern Punjab and farther afield. He also cut the ribbon on the new APS Abbasia Campus, spotlighting the army’s push for solid schooling and instilling good values, the ISPR said.
Rounding out the tour, Munir stopped by the EME Regional Workshop for a briefing on how they keep cutting-edge equipment humming through smart tech, homegrown fixes and backup support. This latest pitch from Munir builds on a string of moves to amp up Pakistan’s military tech game. Back in August 2025, the army rolled out its Rocket Force Command to beef up standard strike options, capping it with a test-fire of the Fatah-4 cruise missile the next month.
In December, he pointed to the multi-front ops in the May 2025 dust-up with India as prime material for war studies going forward. At the time, he flagged the need to track rising arenas like cyber ops, electromagnetic battles, space, info warfare and quantum tech. Just this month, Munir spoke to officers in Lahore while checking out a tech-packed training run. And last week, at Islamabad’s National Police Academy, he called for a robust, community-focused police to lock down internal peace and law enforcement.
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