Field Marshal Asim Munir has been appointed as Pakistan’s first Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), a powerful new military leadership role. This appointment introduces a significant change: the removal of a retirement age limit for the CDF, allowing for a five-year tenure with possible extensions, unlike previous appointments that had a set retirement age.
The President’s office confirmed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s recommendation for Munir to simultaneously hold the positions of Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) has been approved. This consolidation means Munir now commands all branches of the armed forces—Army, Navy, and Air Force. He also gains control over the National Strategic Command, which oversees Pakistan’s nuclear weapons and missile systems, positioning him as the nation’s preeminent military leader.
The creation of the CDF role, formalized through the 27th Amendment to the Constitution, aims to centralize military command structures. This new position effectively replaces the abolished Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC). The government’s decision to create and fill this role had been anticipated, reflecting a strategy to enhance unified military control.
In parallel, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu has been granted a two-year extension to his service. The President conveyed his good wishes to both officers. Asim Munir, already holding the rank of Field Marshal, is now the first officer to concurrently serve as COAS and CDF, solidifying his prominent position within Pakistan’s defense establishment.