Pakistan on Thursday formally appointed Field Marshal Asim Munir as the country’s first Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), marking a significant shift in the nation’s top military leadership structure.
President Asif Ali Zardari approved the appointment after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif sent the summary earlier in the day. Munir, who was elevated to the rare rank of field marshal earlier this year, will continue to serve as Chief of Army Staff (COAS) for the next five years while holding the new office.
Munir became only the second field marshal in Pakistan’s history and the first in more than six decades following the country’s declared victory over India in the May conflict. Speaking informally to journalists at Aiwan-e-Sadr moments before the notification, he said Pakistan was “moving toward better days” and would “rise higher from here”.
Alongside the major reshuffle, President Zardari also approved a two-year extension for Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu, whose current term ends in March 2026. The presidency, in a statement, extended best wishes to both the COAS-CDF and the air chief.
The creation of the new CDF post stems from amendments to the Pakistan Army, Air Force and Navy Acts, approved by parliament and signed into law on November 15. Under the revised framework, Article 243, which outlines the role and authority of a field marshal, will now apply to any general promoted to that rank.
The legislation also authorises the federal government to delegate COAS powers to the vice or deputy army chief through written orders, based on the CDF’s recommendation.
Once the first dual-office notification is issued, the COAS’s tenure will restart from the date of that order.
The government will define the CDF’s specific mandate, which is expected to cover force restructuring, joint operational integration and multi-domain coordination.
A major organisational shift under the amendment is the dissolution of the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) replaced by a new post titled Commander of the National Strategic Command.
The commander will be appointed for a three-year term from among serving army generals on the recommendation of the COAS/CDF.
With the 27th Constitutional Amendment, the CJCSC office has ceased to exist, making General (retd) Sahir Shamshad Mirza its last occupant.
Munir’s military journey
Commissioned into the 23rd Frontier Force Regiment in 1986, Field Marshal Munir graduated from the 17th Officers Training Course in Mangla.
Over the decades, he has held a series of critical roles: directing staff at the Command and Staff College in Quetta, brigade major in Kel, GSO-2 at the CGS Secretariat, chief of staff of Mangla Corps, and later Quartermaster General at GHQ.
He has commanded his parent regiment, an infantry brigade and served as force commander in the Gilgit–Baltistan region.
Munir also headed both major intelligence agencies Military Intelligence (MI) and the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). After his ISI tenure, he was posted as Gujranwala corps commander before returning to GHQ as Quartermaster General, his final position before becoming army chief.
The field marshal is an alumnus of military institutions in Japan, Malaysia and Pakistan, and holds an MPhil in Public Policy and Strategic Security Management from the National Defence University. Known for his interest in sports, reading and travel, he is also a Hafiz-e-Quran.
Leaders respond to historic appointment
Congratulatory messages poured in soon after the announcement. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Munir’s new role aligned with “contemporary warfare needs” and would reinforce Pakistan’s defence architecture. He credited the armed forces under Munir’s command for delivering a “humiliating defeat” to the enemy during the recent conflict and said the country’s global standing had risen as a result.
The prime minister also praised Air Chief Marshal Sidhu, noting the PAF’s “overwhelming dominance” during the four-day war with India.
Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti said Munir’s elevation reflected “the nation’s aspirations and strategic requirements,” noting that Pakistan’s forces had countered every act of aggression under his leadership.
National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq termed the appointment a recognition of Munir’s “exceptional leadership”, recalling the decisive choices made during the May conflict. He said the creation of the CDF office would strengthen coordination among the army, navy and air force.
