Pakistan has officially established the new role of Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and appointed Field Marshal Asim Munir to the prestigious five-year position. This significant military restructuring was approved by the Shehbaz Sharif government, with President Asif Ali Zardari formally clearing the appointment. Field Marshal Munir, who also continues as the Chief of Army Staff, will now lead the combined armed forces of Pakistan. His appointment follows the recent passage of the 27th Constitutional Amendment, which facilitated the creation of the CDF post and abolished the previous role of Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee. Initially appointed as Army Chief in November 2022 for three years, Munir’s tenure was extended by five years in 2024, and this new CDF role further solidifies his leadership for the coming years. The government also announced a two-year extension for Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu, commencing after his current term ends in March 2026. This comprehensive military reform settles ongoing speculation about the CDF position, which has been vacant since November.
