Amid Middle East Conflict, how did Asim Munir get Pakistan Entangled in Shia-Sunni Divide? Know Inside Story

Islamabad: Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir made certain remarks while addressing a gathering of Shia clerics regarding the ongoing attacks by the US and Israel in Iran—remarks that have since sparked a major controversy. He told the Shia religious leaders that if they were more concerned about Iran while residing in Pakistan, they should simply move there. His message was unequivocal: if their love for Iran was so profound, they should go and live there.

What is the controversy?

The controversy over this issue has now escalated to such an extent that reports suggest deep resentment is brewing within the Shia community. However, this is not an unprecedented occurrence in Pakistan; the sectarian divide between Shias and Sunnis runs deep within the country's power establishment—including the military and the bureaucracy.

This situation persists despite the fact that, after Iran, Pakistan is home to the world's second-largest Shia population. Pakistan is estimated to have a Shia population ranging between 25 and 40 million. The only country with a larger Shia population—and the only nation where Shias hold political power—is Iran.

However, Asim Munir's statement has exposed the deep-seated fault lines that have persisted within Pakistan throughout its nearly seven-decade journey since separating from India to become an independent nation. Sunni Muslims have historically dominated the mainstream in Pakistan. While the Ahmadiyya community has been subjected to horrific atrocities, Shias, too, have had to endure the sting of marginalization and neglect.

How are Shia Muslims treated in Pakistan?

Moreover, in the inflammatory rhetoric delivered by religious hardliners in Pakistan, Shias are frequently branded as "infidels" (Kafirs). Furthermore, derogatory terms—such as *Wajib-ul-Qatl* (meaning "deserving of death")—have often been used to describe them. Consequently, extremist forces within Pakistan openly advocate for the killing of Shias. A significant Shia population resides in Gilgit-Baltistan—the region of India's Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir that currently remains under Pakistan's control. Recent developments in Iran had sparked protests within Gilgit-Baltistan; however, the situation took a violent turn when security forces opened fire on the demonstrators. Several people were killed in the incident, and similar reports of violence emerged from Karachi as well.

The situation of Shias in Pakistan is such that even the observance of Muharram requires extensive security arrangements. Pakistan is home to various Muslim communities, including Khoja Ismailis, Bohras, and Ithna Asharis. Given this context, if Asim Munir were to suggest that Shias should leave Pakistan, it would not be a matter of surprise; rather, it would serve to expose the deep-seated Shia-Sunni fault lines within the country. It is noteworthy that Pakistan's founder, Muhammad Ali Jinnah himself, belonged to the Ismaili Khoja sect—a branch of the Shia community.