Field Marshal Asim Munir Named Pakistan's Inaugural Chief of Defence Forces Following Constitutional Amendment

In a significant reorganization of Pakistan's military leadership, the government under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has officially designated Field Marshal Asim Munir as the nation's inaugural Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) for a term of five years. This development follows the enactment of the 27th Constitutional Amendment, which eliminated the role of Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) and introduced the more influential position of CDF.

A statement from the President’s Office confirmed that President Asif Ali Zardari has approved the appointment following Prime Minister Sharif’s recommendation. The notification stated, "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."

Munir, who assumed the role of Army Chief in November 2022 for an initial period of three years, received a five-year extension in 2024. Earlier this year, he was elevated to Field Marshal, becoming the first Pakistani military leader to hold both the COAS and CDF positions simultaneously.

The landmark 27th Constitutional Amendment, enacted last month, has redefined Pakistan's military command structure at the highest level. The establishment of the CDF role has centralized power, giving the CDF comprehensive operational and administrative command over all three military branches, while the CJCSC position has been dissolved.

This appointment concludes weeks of speculation following the retirement of the last CJCSC, General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, on November 27.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister’s Office announced a two-year extension for Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu. His extended tenure is set to begin after his current five-year term ends in March 2026.

This extensive military reorganization follows Pakistan's strategic setback during India's Operation Sindoor in May this year. The operation, a response to a Pakistan-backed terror assault in Pahalgam, targeted numerous terror hubs within Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, significantly damaging key airbases. The intense conflict, which lasted four days, concluded on May 10 with an agreement to cease military actions.

With Field Marshal Munir now officially leading as Pakistan's first CDF, the nation steps into a new era of military consolidation amid ongoing internal and regional security challenges.