Pakistan Army Chief and Field Marshal Asim Munir has been officially notified as the country’s first Chief of Defence Forces, a historic shift in Pakistan’s military command structure. The appointment was confirmed after President Asif Ali Zardari approved a summary forwarded by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Under the new arrangement — created through recent constitutional and defence-service reforms, the post of Chief of Defence Forces replaces the old joint-chiefs system. The role consolidates the command of the army, navy, and air force under a single office. Asim Munir will continue to serve concurrently as Chief of Army Staff. His new CDF tenure is set for five years.
The legislative changes mark one of the most sweeping restructurings of Pakistan’s defence framework in decades. The government says this move aims to streamline decision-making, enhance coordination among the armed services, and modernize command for current security challenges.
In addition to Munir’s appointment, the term of the head of the air force, Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu, has also been extended by two years, reflecting further recalibration of top military leadership.
As Pakistan enters this new era of unified military command, observers expect the changes to reshape civil-military relations, strategic planning, and how defence and security policy is managed.
