ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s army chief, General Asim Munir, on Monday said the enemies of the country were bent upon “creating fissures using religious, ethnic and political vulnerabilities,” according to the Pakistani army.
The army chief said this while addressing a congregation at Christ Church in the garrison city of Rawalpindi where he joined the Christian community in Christmas celebrations, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the army’s media wing.
The statement comes amid a political divide in the South Asian country stemming from the ouster of former prime minister Imran Khan in a parliamentary no-trust vote in April 2022. Khan maintains the generals conspired with Washington and his political rivals to end his term, an allegation denied by all three.
The bruising year-long standoff between Khan, arguably Pakistan’s most popular leader, and the army came to a head in May this year when Khan supporters ransacked military installations and state buildings in violent demonstrations over his brief arrest in a graft case.
While the violent protests prompted a crackdown by the authorities, supporters of the former premier, who has been in jail since August after being convicted in a case relating to the sale of state gifts, remain critical of the army, which has directly ruled the South Asian country on several occasions.
In his address with the Christmas congregation in Rawalpindi, General Munir said it was important to have correct perspective, truth and knowledge-based opinions about national issues, rather than following “rhetoric and propaganda” to address complex challenges and issues. 
“Enemies of Pakistan are hell-bent toward creating fissures using religious, ethnic and political vulnerabilities,” he was quoted as saying by the ISPR.
“We have to stand together & united to rise as a resolute and strong nation.”
The army chief expressed reverence for the Christian community and wished Merry Christmas to all Christians living in Pakistan.
“Islam teaches us the lesson of peace, friendship and encourages interfaith harmony which is the need of the hour,” he said.
Like the rest of the world, Christians across Pakistan celebrate Christmas every year on December 25, which is also the birth anniversary of the founder of Pakistan, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, and is observed as a public holiday in the South Asian country.
General Munir said the idea of promoting greater interfaith harmony in society was in line with Jinnah’s true vision of a “united and progressive” Pakistan.
He acknowledged the contributions and sacrifices made by the entire Christian community of Pakistan in all fields and domains.