Pakistan Appoints Asim Munir as Its First Chief of Defence Forces

Pakistan formalises a new defence structure with Field Marshal Asim Munir serving concurrently as Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces for five years, centralising leadership. The move follows political negotiations and signals a shift in military governance amid ongoing political dynamics.

Pakistan has created a new military post, with Field Marshal Asim Munir named the country’s first Chief of Defence Forces while also staying Chief of Army Staff, after the Shehbaz Sharif government and President Asif Ali Zardari cleared a five-year term for the combined role.

The President’s Office confirmed the move, saying, “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,” formalising a major shift in Pakistan’s command structure.

Asim Munir Chief of Defence Forces role and expanded military structure

Munir, elevated to Field Marshal earlier in 2025, now becomes the first officer to occupy both the Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces positions at the same time, centralising authority over Pakistan’s defence framework and placing one individual at the top of its military decision-making.

According to government sources, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif endorsed Munir’s promotion to the new Chief of Defence Forces post along with continuation as Chief of Army Staff, with the CDF role specifically defined as a five-year assignment, aligning both offices under a single long-term tenure for the first time.

Asim Munir Chief of Defence Forces appointment and political calculations

Political negotiations reportedly slowed the decision in recent weeks, with senior Pakistan Muslim League-N leaders, including former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and PML-N chief organiser Maryam Nawaz, engaging in discussions with Asim Munir over institutional assurances and future direction of both governance and military postings.

Sources told CNN-News18 that Nawaz Sharif views the CDF notification as central to plans for a possible fourth term as Prime Minister, with one senior PML-N figure stating, "If Asim Munir wants a five-year tenure as both COAS and CDF, then he has to assure Nawaz Sharif's premiership," linking command arrangements with political ambitions.

Insiders further indicated that Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz sought leverage over upcoming senior appointments, asking that officers sympathetic to their political outlook occupy key slots, as part of a wider attempt to secure long-term influence over Pakistan’s powerful military institution and reduce uncertainty around future civilian governments.

Alongside Munir’s elevation, the government also cleared a two-year extension for Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu, which is scheduled to begin after Sidhu completes the current five-year term in March 2026, signalling continuity at the top of the Pakistan Air Force as broader changes unfold in the defence leadership.

For Asim Munir, the combined offices of Chief of Army Staff and inaugural Chief of Defence Forces place the Field Marshal at the centre of a reworked military hierarchy likely to shape Pakistan’s security and political landscape, while for the Sharif family, analysts say the priority remains securing stability and negotiated influence within that evolving structure.

The recent developments are summarised below for clarity.

While public reaction continues and online discussions remain active, officials and party sources frame the decisions on Asim Munir and Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu as part of a broader attempt to align Pakistan’s military chain of command with evolving political strategies and to lock in leadership teams for the coming five years.