In a major reform of Pakistan’s military organization, the Shehbaz Sharif government has appointed Field Marshal Asim Munir as the country’s first Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) for a five-year tenure. The top military official, who was promoted to Field Marshal earlier this year, will continue to serve as Chief of Army Staff as well. According to a statement from the President’s Office, President Asif Ali Zardari approved Munir’s nomination based on a synopsis provided by Prime Minister Sharif.
Asif Ali Zardari approved Asim Munir as Pakistan’s first Chief of Defence Forces (CDF).
The press release went as follows: “President Asif Ali Zardari has approved the summary submitted by the Prime Minister for the appointment of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir NI(M), HJ, Chief of Army Staff, concurrently as Chief of Defence Forces for a period of five years.”
A new constitutional amendment restructures military command.
The appointment followed the approval of the 27th Constitutional Amendment last month, which established the position of Chief of Defence Forces. Pakistan formally removed the previous job of Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, with the creation of the CDF role. Field Marshal Munir took over as Army Chief in November 2022 for a three-year term, which was later extended to five years in 2024.
Air chief Zaheer Ahmed Sidhu receives a two-year extension.
The Prime Minister’s Office also announced that PM Sharif has extended Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu’s tenure for another two years. This longer period will begin when his current five-year term expires in March 2026.
With the formal notification now issued, uncertainty about the long-overdue CDF appointment is now resolved. The office has been vacant since November 27, with the retirement of the previous CJCSC, General Sahir Shamshad Mirza.
Operation Sindoor
It is worth noting that Pakistan’s extensive military makeover comes months after the country suffered a significant defeat during India’s Operation Sindoor in May of this year. The operation was undertaken in reaction to a Pakistan-sponsored terror attack in Pahalgam, and it resulted in the destruction of nine critical terror facilities in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, as well as considerable damage to strategic air bases. The strikes sparked four days of severe cross-border confrontations, which ended on May 10 with an agreement to suspend military operations.
