Ministry notifies Field Marshal Asim Munir as CDS

ISLAMABAD:  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).

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.

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. Staff Report