Ministry notifies Field Marshal Asim Munir as Pakistan’s first chief of defence forces

A major shakeup in the country’s defence establishment was formalised on Friday as the Ministry of Defence issued a notification assigning Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir to the newly created role of the chief of defence forces (CDF), Aaj News reported.

A day after approval from President Asif Ali Zardari, the notification confirmed that Field Marshal Munir has been appointed as the chief of defence forces for a period of five years.

President approves Field Marshal Munir’s appointment as Chief of Defence Forces

It was earlier noted that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had approved the summary for the appointment of Field Marshal Munir to the dual roles of army chief and chief of defence forces before it was forwarded for presidential assent.

The CDF position, created under the 27th Constitutional Amendment, will replace the now-abolished office of the joint chiefs of staff committee (CJCSC) chairman, which formally ended on November 27 this year. It would be a dual-hatted position combined with the office of the army chief.

As per the Prime Minister’s Office, Field Marshal Asim Munir will simultaneously hold both positions—chief of army staff and chief of defence forces—for a tenure of five years. His appointment marks the first time in Pakistan’s history that the position of chief of defence forces has been created and filled.

Simultaneously, the service tenure of Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu as the chief of the Pakistan Air Force has also been extended by two years through a separate notification. This extension will come into effect from March 19, 2026.

Asim appointed first chief of defence forces

The extension for the air chief marshal was issued under Article 243 of the Constitution and Section 10B of the Air Force Act.

The development takes place a day after the president endorses the extension on the prime minister’s recommendation.

ACM Sidhu had been appointed as the chief of the air staff in March 2021 and had been granted a one-year extension in 2024.

Another key appointment still under consideration is the commander of the National Strategic Command (NSC), a newly created four-star role tasked with overseeing Pakistan’s nuclear command and strategic forces—previously handled by the CJCSC.

As per the amended Article 243 of the Constitution, the NSC commander will be appointed by the prime minister on the recommendation of the army chief, who will concurrently serve as the chief of defence forces.

PM Shehbaz on Thursday congratulated Field Marshal Munir on his appointment as the country’s first CDF, calling the move “aligned with contemporary and modern warfare requirements.” In a statement issued by the PMO,

Sharif extended his “best wishes” to Munir and said the new role would further strengthen the country’s defence. “Under Field Marshal Asim Munir’s leadership, our brave armed forces inflicted a decisive defeat on the enemy,” the statement quoted the prime minister as saying.