In a landmark move that reshapes its military command, Pakistan has officially appointed its first-ever Chief of Defence Forces (CDF). The country's defence ministry issued a formal notification on Friday, naming Field Marshal Asim Munir to the powerful new position.
A Historic Appointment and Restructured Command
The notification, issued under Article 243 of Pakistan's Constitution and the amended Pakistan Army Act, states that President Asif Ali Zardari, acting on the advice of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, has appointed Munir to the role. He will serve concurrently as the Chief of Army Staff and the Chief of Defence Forces for a five-year tenure. This development, reported by news agency PTI citing Dawn, follows the President's approval a day earlier.
This appointment represents the most significant overhaul of Pakistan's military command structure since the 1970s. It was made possible by the passage of the 27th Constitutional Amendment last month, which created the CDF post to establish a unified command. The amendment also abolished the office of the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC), a role that had coordinated the army, navy, and air force since 1976. That post formally ended on November 27 with the retirement of General Sahir Shamshad Mirza.
Consolidation of Power and Extended Tenures
The restructuring consolidates the operational, administrative, and strategic authority of Pakistan's armed forces into a single office led by the CDF. Under the revised laws, the five-year term for this combined COAS-CDF role is considered to begin from the date of this notification, effectively resetting Munir's tenure.
Munir was first appointed Army Chief in November 2022 for a three-year period. His tenure was later extended to five years in 2024 following amendments to the Pakistan Army Act. He was promoted to the prestigious rank of Field Marshal in May, just days after a four-day conflict with India, becoming only the second officer in Pakistan's history, after Ayub Khan, to hold that rank.
In a related development, the defence ministry also confirmed a two-year extension for Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu. His extended tenure as Chief of the Air Staff will now run from March 2026 to March 2028.
Political Reactions and Future Steps
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated Munir on his "historic" appointment, praising his pivotal leadership. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and other senior leaders also extended congratulations. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar stated that Pakistan's defence had been strengthened by the unified command, dismissing earlier speculation about delays in the notification as "baseless" rumours on social media.
Explaining the strategic rationale, army spokesman Lt General Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry said the new CDF headquarters would enhance coordination in modern, multi-domain warfare spanning land, sea, air, cyber, space, and intelligence. He noted that many countries already operate under similar unified command structures.
The next major step under this new framework will be the appointment of a four-star Commander for the National Strategic Command (NSC), who will be responsible for strategic assets. This commander will be appointed by the prime minister on the recommendation of the CDF. Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar added that the defence ministry is finalising a new organogram to clearly define command flows.
Politically, the 27th Amendment has drawn mixed reactions. While the ruling coalition hails it as a boost for efficiency and national security, opposition leaders have warned that it concentrates excessive power within the military and could potentially weaken democratic and provincial autonomy.
