On May 9, 2023, Pakistan witnessed one of its most dramatic episodes of civil unrest in recent history. Thousands of protestors, mostly supporters of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, took to the streets of major cities in response to the arrest of their leader and former Prime Minister Imran Khan. The protests targeted both government and military institutions, including the General Headquarters of the Pakistan Army in Rawalpindi and the residence of a senior military commander in Lahore, which was set ablaze.
These events marked an unprecedented challenge to the authority of the Pakistan Army, a force traditionally considered the most powerful institution in the country. Even though Imran Khan was released within 48 hours, the unrest of May 2023 was seen as a rare public defiance against decades of military dominance.
Fast forward two years, on May 11, 2025, a completely different scene unfolded in the streets of Pakistan. This time, thousands of citizens gathered not to protest, but to celebrate and support the very institution they once defied — the military. This shift was triggered by a short but intense military confrontation between India and Pakistan, the most severe clash since the 1971 war.
The Conflict That Changed the Narrative
The skirmish began in early May 2025, following a deadly attack in Indian-administered Kashmir’s Pahalgam, where 26 civilians were killed by armed assailants. India blamed Pakistan and launched missile strikes in various regions of Pakistan-administered Kashmir and Punjab province, killing at least 51 people, including 11 soldiers and several children. What followed was a dramatic escalation — a near-war scenario with both nuclear-armed nations exchanging missiles, drones, and artillery fire over four tense days.
The domestic impact of this confrontation in Pakistan was profound. For the first time in years, public sentiment strongly rallied behind the armed forces. A Gallup Pakistan survey conducted between May 11 and 15, 2025, revealed that 96% of respondents believed Pakistan had “won” the conflict. Moreover, 82% rated the military’s performance as “excellent,” and less than 1% expressed dissatisfaction. Most notably, 92% of respondents said their perception of the military had improved following the conflict.
From Vilification to Veneration
On May 11, the day after U.S. President Donald Trump brokered a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, jubilant citizens filled the streets with national flags and posters praising the Pakistan Army and its chief, General Syed Asim Munir. The air was filled with a sense of relief and pride — a stark contrast to the anger and chaos of two years earlier.
In a move that further highlighted this transformation, the Pakistani government declared May 10 as the “Day of Just War.” This designation directly opposed the official label of “Black Day” given to May 9, 2023, when anti-military riots had erupted. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the army’s conduct during the conflict as “a golden chapter in military history,” calling it a victory for both the armed forces and a “self-reliant, proud, and dignified” Pakistani nation. He referenced the name of the military operation, Bunyan Marsus — an Arabic phrase from the Quran (Surah As-Saff 61:4), meaning “a solid wall of lead,” symbolizing unwavering national unity.
Even Imran Khan, still imprisoned with his wife Bushra since August 2023, released a statement through his legal team acknowledging the need for increased public support for the military. In a message shared on X (formerly Twitter), he emphasized that “the morale of the nation is the strength of the armed forces,” reiterating his longstanding belief in the importance of uniting the people and revitalizing the judiciary.
Historical Context: From Fear to Faith
Since its independence from British colonial rule in August 1947, Pakistan’s military has remained the dominant force in the country’s power structure. According to Professor Maria Rashid of the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, the military has long portrayed itself as the guardian of both the geographical and ideological frontiers of the nation. This influence was solidified through four direct military coups and decades of overt and covert control over civilian governments.
In his farewell speech in 2022, then Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa admitted that the military had historically interfered in politics but pledged that it would no longer do so. However, the military’s authority was increasingly questioned by the public in the following years, especially after its strained relationship with Imran Khan, who had once claimed that his administration and the military were “on the same page.”
But the events of May 2025 dramatically altered this perception. In a country where the military’s image had been tarnished by political overreach and public dissatisfaction, a sudden external threat rekindled national solidarity and restored the military’s prestige.
A Cautionary Revival
While the resurgence in public support for the Pakistan Army might seem like a triumph, analysts caution that such unity is often short-lived if not accompanied by structural reforms. The shift from vilification in 2023 to veneration in 2025 reflects the volatile and emotion-driven nature of public opinion in South Asia, especially in times of national crisis.
Nonetheless, the recent conflict with India has offered the military a significant opportunity to rebuild its image and reassert its traditional role as the nation’s ultimate protector. Whether this translates into long-term legitimacy or a return to unchecked dominance remains to be seen.
In the end, what is clear is that a brief yet intense external confrontation dramatically reshaped the domestic narrative — turning critics into supporters, and reinforcing the Pakistan Army’s position as both a military and symbolic force in the national psyche.
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