Field Marshal Asim Munir Appointed Pakistan’s First Chief of Defence Forces in Historic Restructuring
Pakistan’s defence command has undergone a historic restructuring with the formal appointment of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir as the country’s first Chief of Defence Forces, marking an unprecedented consolidation of military authority under a single uniform. According to an official notification issued by the Ministry of Defence on Friday, December 5, 2025, President Asif Ali Zardari approved the appointment on the advice of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, with the appointment taking effect immediately for a tenure of five years.
The presidential statement issued by the President’s Secretariat reads: “President Asif Ali Zardari has approved the summary submitted by the Prime Minister for the appointment of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir NI(M), HJ, Chief of Army Staff, concurrently as Chief of Defence Forces for a period of five years.” This dual appointment represents a significant shift in Pakistan’s military hierarchy, as Munir will retain his existing position as Chief of Army Staff while simultaneously assuming the newly created CDF role, effectively placing operational, administrative, and strategic authority of all three armed forces under single command.
The appointment follows the passage of the 27th Constitutional Amendment last month, which formally created the post of Chief of Defence Forces to establish a unified command structure across the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Under the amended provisions of Article 243 of Pakistan’s Constitution and the amended Pakistan Army Act, the President, acting on the Prime Minister’s advice, will appoint the Army Chief, who will concurrently serve as the CDF. This structural overhaul replaces the previously existing system where the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee coordinated tri-services operations since 1976. With the 27th Constitutional Amendment receiving presidential assent on November 15, 2025, the CJCSC post officially ceased to exist on November 27, 2025, with the retirement of General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, Pakistan’s last occupant of the position.
Field Marshal Munir was initially appointed as Chief of Army Staff in November 2022 for a three-year term, which was subsequently extended to five years in 2024. His elevation to the rank of Field Marshal came in May 2025 following Pakistan’s military conflict with India. With this appointment, his tenure is considered to have recommenced from the date of the latest notification, effectively resetting his five-year period in accordance with the legislation. Munir becomes only the second officer in Pakistan’s history to hold the rank of Field Marshal, the highest military rank in the country, after Field Marshal Ayub Khan and the first in more than six decades.
According to the Defence Ministry notification and the amended military laws, the federal government will determine the specific duties and responsibilities of the CDF, which are designed to include multi-domain integration, restructuring, and ensuring jointness across the armed forces. This reflects the evolving nature of modern warfare that demands integrated operational response across land, sea, air, cyber, space, and intelligence domains. The Ministry of Defence has been tasked with preparing a new organogram to reflect these structural changes, as confirmed by Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar in his official statements.
The appointment also brings about significant changes in the military hierarchy structure. The Defence Ministry notification establishes the position of Commander of the National Strategic Command as a four-star rank, responsible for overseeing strategic assets. The Prime Minister may appoint the NSC Commander from among serving Pakistan Army generals for a three-year term, based on the recommendation of the Army Chief and the newly created Chief of Defence Forces, according to statements issued by the Law Ministry.
Commenting on his appointment, Field Marshal Munir expressed optimism about the military’s role in national development. During an informal conversation with journalists at the Aiwan-e-Sadr in Islamabad, he has stated that from this point forward, Pakistan would soar to greater heights, saying, “Everything is fine; it’s all in front of you. Things are moving towards improvement, and Pakistan will now soar to greater heights from here.” The President’s Secretariat extended “best wishes to the COAS, concurrently the Chief of Defence Forces” for a successful tenure.
The Defence Ministry notification, issued under Article 243 of Pakistan’s Constitution and the amended Pakistan Army Act, marks the most significant restructuring of Pakistan’s military command since the 1970s. Army spokesman Lt. General Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry has told to the media that the CDF headquarters would improve coordination in modern multi-domain warfare, noting that many countries already operate under similar unified command structures.
The notification also announced an extension of Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu’s service by two years, effective from the completion of his current tenure in March 2026. The President’s Secretariat stated that the President extended “best wishes to the PAF chief for a successful tenure,” confirming the broader consolidation of military leadership within Pakistan’s defence establishment.
The historic appointment represents a significant institutional shift in Pakistan’s military structure, establishing a unified command system designed to enhance operational effectiveness and ensure faster decision-making during critical situations. With Field Marshal Munir now holding both the positions of Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces, Pakistan has formally centralized military authority under a single command, a structural change that government officials maintain brings constitutional oversight to defence appointments while maintaining institutional continuity and military traditions.