Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, is signaling a strategic pivot toward India’s eastern frontier, leveraging recent political changes in Bangladesh and a thaw in relations with Washington to recalibrate Islamabad’s military approach.
In an interview with The Economist, Pakistan’s military spokesman Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry remarked, “We’ll start from the East,” hinting at the possibility of opening a new front along India’s vulnerable northeastern corridor. The move follows Bangladesh’s early-2025 regime change, which brought to power a hardline Islamist administration more sympathetic to Pakistan’s interests. This shift has reportedly revived cross-border militant logistics, arms trafficking, and madrassa networks along the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
Munir’s eastern strategy is built on three pillars: rebuilding ties with Dhaka, regaining U.S. strategic patronage, and shifting toward hybrid warfare. His June 2025 meeting with former U.S. President Donald Trump, coupled with a state honor for CENTCOM commander General Michael “Erik” Kurilla, marked a significant warming in U.S.–Pakistan relations. Trump’s public criticism of New Delhi and hints at economic leverage have further emboldened Islamabad.
Military analysts note Pakistan’s growing emphasis on irregular tactics—cyber-attacks, disinformation campaigns, and proxy infiltrations—designed to strain India’s security resources. This approach follows India’s successful Operation Sindoor, which showcased long-range strike capabilities, potentially deterring conventional offensives.
India has responded by reinforcing surveillance and troop presence in Assam and Meghalaya, expanding riverine patrols along the Brahmaputra valley, and conducting joint drills with Myanmar. Diplomatically, New Delhi is engaging ASEAN and Gulf partners to curb Islamabad’s regional maneuvering.
Experts warn that Pakistan’s “start from the East” doctrine could escalate tensions between two nuclear-armed nations. While hybrid tactics may bypass conventional deterrence, India’s proven readiness to retaliate beyond the Line of Control remains a significant risk factor for Islamabad.
