ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved the appointment of Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir as the country’s first Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement on Thursday.
The statement said the summary has been forwarded to the Presidency for formal approval. Field Marshal Munir will serve concurrently as Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces for a five-year term, the Prime Minister’s Office stated.
Later, Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari also approved the summary submitted by the Prime Minister for the appointment of Field Marshal Munir as Chief of Defence Forces for a period of five years, the President’s Secretariat media wing stated in a press release.
Prime Minister Sharif has also approved a two-year extension for the country’s Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu. The extension will take effect once his current five-year term ends in March 2026.
President Zardari also approved a two-year extension in the service of Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu, Chief of Air Staff, to take effect from the completion of his present tenure on 19 March 2026.
The President extended his best wishes to the COAS, concurrently the Chief of Defence Forces and the Chief of Air Staff, for their successful tenures, the press release added.
The Chief of Defence Forces position was created under the 27th Constitutional Amendment. The CDF will replace the now-abolished office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) chairman, which formally ended on November 27.
Under the new law, the Chief of Army Staff will concurrently serve as Chief of Defence Forces for five years, which means he will be the head of all Pakistan Armed Forces.
Field Marshal Munir’s tenure will restart from the date the new notification is issued.
The legislation further clarified that once the first notification for the dual office is issued, the incumbent COAS’s tenure will be deemed to have recommenced from the date of that notification.
Earlier, Prime Minister’s Advisor on Political Affairs, Rana Sanaullah, said that with the appointment of the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), a new institution is being created, which will be of great importance.
The prime minister’s adviser said that regulations and rules for the Chief of Defence Forces position are yet to be framed and that great caution is required for the CDF’s rules.
Last week, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said the notification of CDF appointment would be issued “in the due course of time” and urged people to refrain from speculation.
Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir on Thursday told journalists during an informal interaction at the Presidency in Islamabad that Pakistan would now move towards greater heights.
“Everything is fine — it is all before you. Things are improving, and Pakistan will now soar to greater heights from here,” Field Marshal Munir said.
Earlier today, Pakistan’s Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar stressed that notification regarding the appointment of Field Marshal Asim Munir as Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) could be issued at any moment.
While speaking to the media, Azam Nazeer Tarar stated that there is no ambiguity whatsoever under Article 245 or in any of the Air Force, Army, and Naval Acts. He said that it has been written that whoever is the Army Chief will be the Chief of Defence Forces.
He noted that under the 2024 amendments, the tenure for service chiefs was extended from three to five years, and the legislation allows re-appointment or partial extension.
Brief profile of Field Marshal Munir
Field Marshal Munir, Pakistan’s first Chief of Defence Forces, was commissioned in the 23rd Frontier Force Regiment in 1986. He passed out with the 17th Officers Training Course at Mangla and was awarded the coveted Sword of Honour.
He has held several key military positions, including directing staff at Command and Staff College, Quetta; brigade major of a deployed infantry brigade in Kel; general staff officer, grade-2 at the CGS secretariat; and chief of staff of Mangla Corps. He also served as Quartermaster General at the General Headquarters.
Field Marshal Munir has commanded the 23rd Frontier Force Regiment and an infantry brigade, and has served as force commander in the Northern Areas, Gilgit.
He has held top intelligence positions, including Director General of Military Intelligence (MI) and head of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). After heading ISI, he was posted as Corps Commander Gujranwala and then as Quartermaster General — his last assignment before becoming the country’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS).
He graduated from Fuji School, Japan; Command and Staff College, Quetta; Malaysian Armed Forces College, Kuala Lumpur; and National Defence University, Islamabad. He also holds an MPhil in Public Policy and Strategic Security Management from the National Defence University.
Field Marshal Munir is Pakistan’s first Army Chief to be awarded the Sword of Honour. He is a keen sportsman, avid reader, traveller, and a Hafiz-e-Quran.
