The Ministry of Defence today officially notified the appointment of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, NI (M), as the country’s first-ever Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), concurrently holding the office of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS). This historic decision, approved by President Asif Ali Zardari on the advice of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, marks the most significant reorganization of the military command structure since the 1970s.
Consolidation of Authority, and Tenure Reset
The appointment is effective immediately for a tenure of five years, as stipulated by recent amendments to the Constitution and the Pakistan Army Act (PAA). The CDF office, established under the 27th Constitutional Amendment (revised Article 243), consolidates all operational, administrative, and strategic authority into a single command structure.
The notification confirms that Field Marshal Munir’s tenure as COAS concurrently with CDF commenced from the date of this official notification, resetting the five-year term.
The new structure officially abolishes the office of the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC), transferring the responsibility for tri-service coordination and joint command integration directly to the CDF.
BREAKING:
PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE
The Federal Government of Pakistan is pleased to appoint Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir Ahmed Shah NI(M) HJ HI(M),as the first Chief of Defence Forces of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, as well as the Chief of Army Staff of the Pakistan Army. pic.twitter.com/v7j8Xf8BVX
— The STRATCOM Bureau (@OSPSF) December 4, 2025
Air Force Chief Tenure Extended
In a separate notification, the Ministry of Defence also confirmed the approval of the Prime Minister’s advice regarding the Pakistan Air Force leadership:
- Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, NI (M), has been granted a two-year extension as the Chief of the Air Staff.
- The extension takes effect upon the completion of his current five-year term on March 19, 2026, securing his leadership until March 2028.
Prime Minister of #Pakistan Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has approved a two-year extension in the tenure of Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, NI (M), HJ, Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Pakistan Air Force,
This extension will take effect upon the completion of his current… pic.twitter.com/xFdpJtV8rU
— Pakistan Armed Forces News 🇵🇰 (@PakistanFauj) December 4, 2025
Constitutional, and Strategic Impact
The establishment of the CDF is a strategic move aimed at enhancing jointness, multi-domain integration, and overall operational efficiency across the armed forces. Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is currently finalizing the new organogram that will define the functional roles and command flows between the CDF, the Service Chiefs, and the newly established strategic command elements.
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Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif conveyed his best wishes to Field Marshal Munir, stating, “Under the leadership of Field Marshal Munir, our brave armed forces will be strategically positioned to meet the demands of modern warfare and continue to ensure national security.”
