Defence Minister Khawaja Asif confirmed Sunday that the process for notifying the appointment of Pakistan’s first Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) has commenced, with the formal announcement to follow Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif’s return from London on Monday.
“Please be informed that the process has been initiated. PM is returning shortly. Notification will be issued in due course of time,” Asif stated on X, addressing speculation surrounding the November 29 deadline—the original expiry of Field Marshal Asim Munir’s three-year tenure as Chief of Army Staff (COAS).
There is unnecessary and irresponsible speculation about CDF notification. Please be informed that the process has been initiated. PM is returning shortly. Notification will be issued in due course of time. No room for any conjecturing. Period!
— Khawaja M. Asif (@KhawajaMAsif) November 30, 2025
The CDF role, established under the 27th Constitutional Amendment to Article 243 and effective from midnight November 27, replaces the abolished Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) office, which ended with General Sahir Shamshad Mirza’s retirement as its 18th and final holder. The dual-hatted position merges COAS duties with overarching strategic command over all three services, resetting Munir’s term to five years (extendable by another five until 2035).
Legal experts note the 2024 Pakistan Army Act amendment’s “deeming” clause retroactively extends service chiefs’ tenures to five years, potentially obviating a fresh COAS notification. However, consensus holds that the new CDF assignment requires explicit gazette publication to formalize the transition.
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The delay, attributed to finalizing “finer details,” has sparked internal debates on tenure start date (November 2022 or 2025?) and the CDF’s authority over the Pakistan Air Force and Navy. Pending decisions include appointing the new four-star Commander National Strategic Command (CNSC) for nuclear oversight, insulated from judicial review.
Outgoing CJCSC Gen Mirza, in his farewell, endorsed the reforms as “much-needed organisational reform” for tri-services synergy amid cyber, space, and unmanned challenges.
The restructuring, passed by Parliament on November 13 and signed by President Asif Ali Zardari, centralizes power to enhance efficiency but draws criticism for diminishing naval and air force roles in apex decision-making.
